They have been negotiating continuously for thirty days now, including weekends. And there is very little time left for the British and Europeans to come to an agreement on their future relationship if they want it to go into effect on 1er January 2021. Because, on that date, whatever happens, the United Kingdom will officially leave the European internal market.
However, when he reported on the progress of the discussions before the ambassadors of the Twenty-Seven to the Union, Wednesday, December 2, Michel Barnier, did not report significant progress. Differences persist on three major issues – the rules of fair competition, fishing rights and the dispute settlement mechanism – once again affirmed the European chief negotiator for Brexit.
“Additional costs”
While Michel Barnier and his team have been in London for a few days and the member states do not know in detail what is going on there, some are worried that, in the home stretch, their interests are less well defended. “Substance must take precedence and we must not sacrifice the future for a question of timing”, underlines a diplomat. Several countries expressed themselves in this direction during the virtual meeting on Wednesday, including France, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.
For them, nothing prevents them from continuing to negotiate until the end of the year, or even early 2021, in an attempt to define the conditions of a free trade agreement, without quotas or customs duties. In this case, there could be a transitional period from 1er January 2021, during which the World Trade Organization (WTO) tariffs would apply, until common ground is found. “Between fundamental risks for Europe over ten years and additional costs to be borne for a few months, there is no hesitation”, launches a diplomat, on this line.
At this point, the British, who have always refused to negotiate beyond December 31, 2020, have given no sign that they have changed their minds. And, “To consider extending the discussions, we would have to think that it would be useful, that we have signals from the British in this direction”, comments Renew MEP (Liberals) Nathalie Loiseau, who, for the moment, does not see any. “If we do not find an agreement in the coming days, if nothing changes, it will not make sense to continue discussing”, adds the former minister delegate for European affairs.
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