Brexit talks due in Brussels may be sign of deal progress
TALKS WITH the European Union on a post- Brexit trade deal will take place in Brussels from tomorrow.
The UK side led by Lord Frost and the EU’s team under its chief negotiator Michel Barnier, inset, have been meeting in London since the process restarted last week
In what appears to be a sign that enough progress is being made to at least make it possible for the talks to continue, the teams will move to the Belgian capital to continue their discussions.
European Commission spokesman Dan Ferrie told reporters: “I can confirm that negotiations are ongoing in London right now, they will run until tomorrow and then they will take place here in Brussels, as of Thursday.” He would not be drawn on the status of the negotiations but said both sides are “engaging intensively” to reach a deal. On Monday, Downing Street warned “time is very short” to bridge the “significant” gaps between the UK and EU. The current transition arrangements expire at the end of the year and a deal will need to be reached within weeks in order for it to be ratified by then.
The main obstacles to a deal have been rows over fishing rights, the so- called “level playing field” rules to ensure fair competition and governance arrangements for any agreement.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Foreign Minister said a Brexit deal is “likely” but it will not be easy. Simon Coveney said he was “under no illusion of the challenges” facing UK and EU negotiators in the next 10 days to two weeks trying to come to agreement, which he said was the “realistic” timeline now “to complete this”.
“We’re likely to get a deal but it won’t be easy,” Mr Coveney told an Irish Farmers Journal webinar.
The news comes after it emerged powers enabling ministers to break international law could be stripped from controversial Brexit legislation by peers within days.
The UK Internal Market Bill is undergoing detailed line- by- line scrutiny in the House of Lords, and is currently scheduled for four days of consideration at committee stage.