First face-to-face Brexit talks since coronavirus end early with ‘serious’ differences
The latest round of trade talks between Britain and the European Union have broken up a day early, with both sides failing to see eye-to-eye on a number of issues.
Discussions in Brussels this week were meant to finish tomorrow, but the UK’s chief negotiator David Frost revealed they would end today instead. He said taking part in the first face-to-face Brexit talks since the coronavirus outbreak hit had provided ‘extra depth and flexibility’ to discussions but said there was still more to do.
Mr Frost added: ‘We have completed our discussion of the full range of issues in the negotiation in just over three days. The negotiations have been comprehensive and useful. But they have also underlined the significant differences that still remain between us on a number of important issues.’
His EU counterpart Michel Barnier said that while Brussels had engaged ‘constructively’, officials needed to see an ‘equivalent engagement from the UK side’. He added: ‘Our goal was to get negotiations successfully and quickly on a trajectory to reach an agreement. However, after four days of discussions, serious divergences remain.’
He said the EU maintains that there will be ‘no economic partnership’ without ‘robust guarantees for a level playing field’ ensuring fair competition, and a ‘sustainable and long-term solution for our European fishermen and women’.
The bloc says it also wants an ‘overarching institutional framework and effective dispute settlement mechanisms’ and ‘parallel progress in all areas’.
Mr Barnier added: ‘The EU expects, in turn, its positions to be better understood and respected in order to reach an agreement. We need an equivalent engagement by the United Kingdom.
‘We continue to believe that an agreement is possible and in everyone’s interest.’
Talks are expected to continue in London next week before the next round of discussions in the week of July 20.
Both sides are trying to hammer out a comprehensive trade deal before the end of Britain’s transition period on New Year’s Day, 2021.
Downing Street has said Boris Johnson will not allow negotiations to drag on past September because it would not leave enough time for businesses to prepare.
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