UK may have a Brexit deal ‘next month’
BORIS Johnson’s chief European negotiator believes a post-Brexit trade deal can be agreed with the EU next month.
David Frost, who faces a fresh round of talks with his Brussels counterpart Michel Barnier next week, has sounded an optimistic note about discussions after months of deadlock.
“As always, we go in good faith to talk constructively about all the issues. Our assessment is that agreement can be reached in September and we will work to achieve this if we can,” the head of the Prime Minister’s Taskforce Europe tweeted last night.
Mr Frost said he was “looking forward to going to Brussels next week for round seven of the negotiations with the European Commission”.
Judicial
He continued: “As we keep saying, we are not looking for a special or unique agreement. We want a deal with, at its core, a free-trade agreement like those the EU has with other friendly countries, like Canada.
“The UK’s sovereignty – over our laws, our courts, our fishing waters – is of course not up for discussion.
“We will not accept anything which compromises it, just as we aren’t looking for anything which threatens the integrity of the EU’s single market.” His tone contrasts with Mr Barnier who last month claimed a deal was “unlikely”.
The two chief negotiators will meet over dinner in Brussels on Tuesday in the latest attempt at a breakthrough.
Next week’s talks are set to run until Friday with further meetings possible the following week. The agenda covers a series of key sticking points, including fishing rights and the EU’s demand for a so-called “level-playing field” on regulations.
Future trade in goods and services, law enforcement and judicial cooperation will also be discussed.
The teams are attempting to conclude negotiations by October at the latest, to give the EU time to ratify any deal within the UK’s transition period which ends on December 31.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson met Irish premier Micheal Martin and Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster in Belfast yesterday.
After talks the PM said there will be a trade border down the Irish Sea “over my dead body” after Brexit.
However, he said it was important to have the Northern Ireland protocol, which ensures the region follows some of the EU’s rules to allow freedom of movement of goods and services across the Irish border.