Brexit: the British negotiator’s warning

 

The next round of negotiations between Brussels and London on Brexit promises to be tense. Because the United Kingdom has absolutely no intention of changing its position on several points, such as the control of its laws, its trade and its waters. This was announced by British negotiator David Frost. “This has been our constant position from the start and I will not change it,” David Frost wrote on Twitter, adding that he was to meet in the afternoon with EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

“We are trying to get an agreement, but the only possible one is an agreement which is compatible with our sovereignty and which takes back control of our laws, our trade and our waters,” he explained. This new round of negotiations is considered one of the last likely to lead to a trade agreement between the two parties. “We may not succeed,” said David Frost. The UK officially left the EU on January 31, but the full effect of the divorce will not be felt until January 1, 2021, after the transition period during which it continues to apply the standards. European.

Three subjects under tension

By then, London and Brussels had promised to conclude a “zero tariff, zero quota” trade treaty to limit as much as possible the negative (and inevitable) consequences of Brexit. However, with less than fifty days from the end of the year, the discussions, however intensive, are skating. The talks stumble on three subjects: the guarantees demanded in London in terms of competition, the access of Europeans to fish-rich British waters, and the way of settling disputes in the future agreement. According to David Frost, progress has been made in recent days and the two parties now have a joint draft text. “However, important elements have of course not yet been the subject of any agreement,” added the Briton.

 

4/4 But we may not succeed. Either way, as the Prime Minister @BorisJohnson made clear on 16 October, people and businesses must prepare for the change that is coming on 31 December, most of which happens whether there is a deal or not.

— David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) November 15, 2020

 

You may also like