Brussels accuses the UK of having no ‘plan to succeed’ in its approach to Brexit talks
BRITAIN is showing “no real sign” of approaching the Brexit trade talks “with a plan to succeed”, according to the European Union’s trade commissioner.
Phil Hogan said the UK needed to outline further details about what it wanted to achieve, as he added that the EU was “serious” about a deal.
“Despite the urgency and enormity of the negotiating challenge, I am afraid we are only making very slow progress in the Brexit negotiations,” he told the Irish broadcaster RTE.
“There is no real sign that our British friends are approaching the negotiations with a plan to succeed.
“I hope I am wrong, but I don’t think so.”
Brussels and the UK are negotiating a fresh trade agreement via video-telephone conferencing, due to restrictions on movement imposed on both sides of the Channel to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Stumbling blocks have included “level playing field” provisions on issues including subsidies and standards and the EU’S demand for continued access to UK fishing waters after Brexit.
Yesterday, Downing Street rejected Mr Hogan’s assessment, insisting the UK was approaching the talks “constructively” but cautioned that the EU needed to understand it was dealing with an “independent state”.
In response to Mr Hogan’s claims, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he did not accept the assessment. “We look forward to negotiating constructively in the next round beginning on May 11,” he said.
“We are ready to keep talking with the EU but that will not make us any more likely to agree to the EU’S proposals in certain areas which are unprecedented and do not take account of the fact that we have left the EU as an independent state.”
The spokesman added that the UK would “continue to negotiate constructively to find a balanced solution which reflects the political realities on both sides”.
The Government has insisted the transition period will not be extended beyond 2020, despite officials in London and Brussels admitting there has been little progress in the two rounds of formal talks held so far.
Mr Hogan also suggested that Westminster had decided that coronavirus was “going to be blamed for all the fallout” from Brexit, which the Government denied.