The UK must retain control of its laws, trade and waters after Brexit, and will not “change” its stance on it, UK negotiator David Frost warned on Sunday ahead of a new round of negotiations. negotiations in Brussels on the future relationship with the EU.
“This has been our constant position from the start and I will not change it,” wrote on Twitter David Frost, 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.
“We might not succeed”
This new round of negotiations is considered one of the last likely to lead to a trade agreement between the two parties. “We might 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.
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, 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. “That said, important elements have of course not yet been the subject of any agreement,” added the Briton.
Original article by : www.leparisien.fr
