A BREXIT DEAL WITH EU FINALLY IN SIGHT
A FINAL agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union is “very much possible” yet “far from certain”, Britain’s chief negotiator warned as he urged Brussels officials to abandon all impossible demands.
The two sides are entering the final stages of negotiations for a free trade agreement before the Brexit transition phase finishes at the end of the year.
David Frost, who represents Britain, urged his EU counterparts to “scale back” their “unrealistic ambitions” and cautioned that “time is short”.
Tensions have flared over Brussels’ attempts to limit the UK’S ability to set its own fishing policy, design its own regulations and decide on business aid.
Meanwhile, leading Brexiteers have called for Britain to “terminate” the Withdrawal Agreement because it gives “Brussels and its agencies continuing power over the UK for years to come”.
They warn the UK could face years of “legal wrangling” and nothing less than “a nightmare on Brexit street”.
However, Mr Frost insisted the Government remains focused on trying to secure a Canadian-style free trade deal.
He said: “An agreement is still very much possible, but equally very far from certain. The last two weeks of informal talks have been relatively positive, but there remains much to be done and time is short. We have been saying from the beginning that we simply want a standard free trade agreement like Canada’s.
“Sadly, the EU’S position has not been so straightforward and we continue to be asked to accept provisions which do not reflect the reality of the change which our exit from the EU brings.
“If the gaps in these areas are to be bridged, the EU still needs to scale back more of its unrealistic ambitions and work on more realistic policy positions.
“I hope this will be possible this coming week and I and my team are ready to work as hard as necessary to move things forward.”
The Centre for Brexit Policy argues that to safeguard “national independence” the present Withdrawal Agreement must be scrapped and replaced with a new treaty.
It warns: “We are now grappling with the dreadful consequences of acceding to a treaty that, if left unchanged, reduces the UK to the status of an EU colony.”
The CBP fears that unless the agreement is abandoned Britain will see the European Court of Justice “using its powers to uphold special rights for EU citizens living in the UK”. The think tank also anticipates attempts to outlaw efforts by the UK to support domestic industry.
It warns today that walking away from the present talks is not enough because the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol are “already domestic and international law” and will take effect from next year unless repealed.
The think tank says suggestions that problems in the agreement could be “cleaned up” after the end of the transition period are “profoundly mistaken”.
Labour MP Graham Stringer fears we will be “legally entwined” for years. He said: “That will be our Hotel California moment, and it won’t be pretty.”
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen also pushed for the Withdrawal Agreement’s termination, demanding a “clean break” from EU control and arguing that “it had served its purpose in facilitating negotiations”.
John Longworth, director-general of the
Centre for Brexit Policy, said: “The prospect of the European Court of Justice and the European Commission continuing to issue orders to the UK and endless legal wrangling truly means we face a nightmare on Brexit street unless we break free from their clutches at the eleventh hour.”
The CBP report also urges ministers to “exploit the financial power of the City”. Britain could “impose penalties on European financial institutions seeking to raise capital in London if Brussels will not accede to UK demands”.
However, the CBI said in its survey of 648 companies only four per cent would prefer no deal on trade to be reached. And half of respondents said dealing with Covid-19 has “negatively affected Brexit preparations”.
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, boss of the industry body, said: “Now must be the time for political leadership and the spirit of compromise to shine through on both sides. A deal can and must be made.”