Talks over deal enter intensive phase as chief negotiator David Frost arrives in Brussels.
Source - Result Telegraph - 27/06/20
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/06/27/uk-can-reach-broad-outline-brexit-political-agreement-summer/
Britain can agree to the "broad outline of a political agreement" with the European Union over the terms of Brexit this summer, Boris Johnson's negotiating team will tell their Brussels counterparts on Sunday.
David Frost, the Prime Minister's chief Brexit negotiator, is arriving in Brussels with a small team of 20 UK negotiators as talks over a deal enter an intensive phase.
The news came as Mark Francois, the chairman of the Eurosceptic European Research Group of Tory MPs, warned the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, that a deal selling out UK interests would not be passed by MPs in Parliament.
At last week's high-level meeting. both sides agreed to a process of intensified negotiations in the hope of injecting new momentum. The UK now expects those words to be translated into action, officials said.
Sticking points remain over the "level playing field" on regulations and access to fishing waters, but a Number 10 source warned that Britain "won't waste time on talks that never move forward".
The UK's preparations for leaving the EU without a deal in December are now said to be "well under way".
The source said: "The faster we can reach an agreement, the better – and there's no clear reason why the broad outline of a political agreement can't be reached in the summer.
"The EU needs to realise that these talks cannot be prolonged into the autumn. This week, Michel Barnier referred to 'the real moment of truth' as October. As we have repeatedly made clear, this is far too late. Businesses need clarity on the terms of transition as quickly as possible."
Mr Frost said: "Negotiations over the next few weeks won't be easy. There are still fundamental differences between our positions, and a new process in itself isn't enough to breach the gap.
"It will require dedication, willing and understanding from both sides. We will work intensively and at pace, as we firmly believe it is possible to reach a broad outline of an agreement in good time.
"But any deal must reflect our well-established position on difficult issues such as the so-called 'level playing field' and fisheries – that is, as an independent country we will have control over our laws and our waters. Our sovereignty will never be up for negotiation."
In his letter to Mr Barnier, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Francois warned that any deal could not mean that "the UK continues to follow EU laws and judgments, even though we have now formally left the European Union".
He said the ERG "fully supports" Mr Frost, adding: "We have confidence in him and his team and strongly urge you to listen when he says that certain EU demands are simply not going to work.
"All I and my colleagues in the ERG have ever really wanted is to live in a free country, which elects its own Government and makes its own laws and then lives under them in peace.
"We have come a very long way in securing this objective and we have no intention of abandoning it, either now or in the future."
Source - Result Telegraph - 27/06/20
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/06/27/uk-can-reach-broad-outline-brexit-political-agreement-summer/
Britain can agree to the "broad outline of a political agreement" with the European Union over the terms of Brexit this summer, Boris Johnson's negotiating team will tell their Brussels counterparts on Sunday.
David Frost, the Prime Minister's chief Brexit negotiator, is arriving in Brussels with a small team of 20 UK negotiators as talks over a deal enter an intensive phase.
The news came as Mark Francois, the chairman of the Eurosceptic European Research Group of Tory MPs, warned the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, that a deal selling out UK interests would not be passed by MPs in Parliament.
At last week's high-level meeting. both sides agreed to a process of intensified negotiations in the hope of injecting new momentum. The UK now expects those words to be translated into action, officials said.
Sticking points remain over the "level playing field" on regulations and access to fishing waters, but a Number 10 source warned that Britain "won't waste time on talks that never move forward".
The UK's preparations for leaving the EU without a deal in December are now said to be "well under way".
The source said: "The faster we can reach an agreement, the better – and there's no clear reason why the broad outline of a political agreement can't be reached in the summer.
"The EU needs to realise that these talks cannot be prolonged into the autumn. This week, Michel Barnier referred to 'the real moment of truth' as October. As we have repeatedly made clear, this is far too late. Businesses need clarity on the terms of transition as quickly as possible."
Mr Frost said: "Negotiations over the next few weeks won't be easy. There are still fundamental differences between our positions, and a new process in itself isn't enough to breach the gap.
"It will require dedication, willing and understanding from both sides. We will work intensively and at pace, as we firmly believe it is possible to reach a broad outline of an agreement in good time.
"But any deal must reflect our well-established position on difficult issues such as the so-called 'level playing field' and fisheries – that is, as an independent country we will have control over our laws and our waters. Our sovereignty will never be up for negotiation."
In his letter to Mr Barnier, seen by The Telegraph, Mr Francois warned that any deal could not mean that "the UK continues to follow EU laws and judgments, even though we have now formally left the European Union".
He said the ERG "fully supports" Mr Frost, adding: "We have confidence in him and his team and strongly urge you to listen when he says that certain EU demands are simply not going to work.
"All I and my colleagues in the ERG have ever really wanted is to live in a free country, which elects its own Government and makes its own laws and then lives under them in peace.
"We have come a very long way in securing this objective and we have no intention of abandoning it, either now or in the future."
Comments
Post a Comment