EU offers to extend fishing rights talks
European Union diplomats have offered to extend talks on fishing rights into the New Year amid signs of progress towards an agreement over a post-brexit trade deal.
Fishing rights remain the major stumbling block to a deal.
European Union diplomats last night repeated their offer to continue negotiating beyond January 1 over the thorny issue of fishing rights amid signs the two sides may be moving closer to an agreement.
Negotiators are making a "final push" to reach a postBrexit trade deal, the European Union's Michel Barnier said.
Mr Barnier, who is leading the EU'S team in negotiations with the UK, said it was a "crucial moment" with the current trading arrangements due to end on December 31.
He was briefing ambassadors from the 27 EU countries and MEPS about the state of the talks as time runs short for a deal to be reached.
In a sign of the intensive diplomatic activity, Boris Johnson is in" close contact" with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Downing Street sources said they were speaking "from time to time given there isn't long left" until the end of the Brexit transition period next week.
But No 10 refused to confirm Politico reports that they spoke on Monday about proposals to address the issue of fishing rights, one of the final remaining barriers to a deal.
Speaking to reporter sin Brussels, Mr Barnier said: "We are really in a crucial moment and we are giving it a final push. In ten days, the UK will leave the single market."
The Prime Minister continued to insist the UK will "prosper mightily" without a deal, despite warning that it could add further damage to an economy already ravaged by coronavirus.
Trade between the UK and EU will face tariffs and quotas from January 1 unless a deal is reached. But talks in Brussels remain difficult, with "significant differences in key areas", including fishing and rules on maintaining fair competition.
Downing Street insiders flatly rejected reports that there has been a breakthrough in the row over fishing quotas.
Reports suggested the UK had offered a cut of about a third in the amount of fish EU vessels catch in British waters over a five-year period. That is down from an initial demand to cut it by 60 p er cent over three years, but the compro - mise was reportedly rejected by Brussels.
At a press conference on Monday, Mr Johnson said World Trade Organisation terms – the default if there is no deal – would be "entirely satisfactory". "Prosper mightily remains an extremely good description of life after January 1 either way," he insisted.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast that a no-deal outcome could result in a 2 per cent hit to gross domestic product – a measure of the size of the economy – in 2021. That would equate to around £45 billion being wiped off the value of the UK economy.
An EU diplomat said: “Pro - gress has been made. Most issues are preliminarily closed or close to being agreed. However, differences on fisheries remain difficult to bridge. Unfortunately, the UK is not moving enough yet to clinch a fair deal on fisheries.
“EU negotiators are in a last push now to make progress and to clinch a deal acceptable for both sides. The EU will not close its do or to the UK and remains ready to negotiate even beyond January 1.”
Travel from the UK to the European Union should be "discouraged" due to fears about the mutant variant of coronavirus but bans on movement should be lifted, Brussels has said.
The European Comm issi on recommended a joint approach from EU members after individual countries imposed emergency restrictions.
The most dramatic action came from France, which closed its border to lorries crossing the Channel, lead - ing to more than 2,800 HGVS being trapped in Kent.
The E u-wide approach recommended by the commission would allow essential travel, and transit of passengers should be facilitated.
Flight and train bans "should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions", the commission said.
EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said: "Member states should take co-ordinated action to discourage non-essential travel between the UK and the EU." But "at the same time, blanket travel bans should not prevent thousands of EU and UK citizens from returning to their homes".
Transport commissioner Adina Valean said: "Within the EU, it is crucial that transport workers are exempted from any restrictive measures."
Talks between the UK and France to resolve the crisis at the Channel have included discussions on testing HGV drivers.
The European Union's recommendation suggested rapid tests should be used to avoid disruption.
The commission said: "Cargo flows need to continue uninterrupted... not least to ensure the timely distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, for example."
UK ministers have insisted that supplies of the Pfizer/biontech vaccine, which is manufactured in Belgium, have not been affected by the disruption.
Despite the European Commission recommendations, Ireland extended restrictions on travel from Great Britain until December 31 which ban passenger flights and sea crossings.
By Tuesday afternoon around 2,180 lorries were being held at the former airfield site in Manston, Kent, with 632 queued on the M20 as they were blocked from using ferry routes to Dover and the Channel Tunnel.