EU insists on October deadline for Brexit deal
OCTOBER is the cut-off for a free trade deal, Brussels insisted yesterday as Brexit talks resumed.
British negotiator David Frost and EU counterpart Michel Barnier met for dinner in the Belgian capital to kick off the seventh round of discussions.
But a gloomy Mr Barnier said a deal looked “at this point unlikely” given the UK position on the key issues of fishing rights and competition rules.
He claimed Britain had not shown a “willingness to break the deadlock”.
The EU’s chief negotiator added that an agreement would be needed by October “at the latest” so it could be ratified before the post-Brexit transition period ends in December.
Downing Street insists a deal can be reached next month.
An EU Commission spokesman said: “We want a deal, we want to have an ambitious and fair partnership with the UK, and we must come to an agreement in October at the latest.
“This week and over the coming weeks we will remain constructive, we will remain engaged and respectful with the UK negotiating team in order to reach a deal.”
Downing Street has said UK negotiators will continue working to “plug the gaps” over the talks this week. Brussels has dragged its feet in the talks by refusing to allow more straightforward issues to be agreed first.
Best For Britain campaign group chief executive Naomi Smith said: “The Government promised to deliver Brexit to ‘unleash the potential of our whole country’. But without a comprehensive trade deal with the EU, potentially irreparable damage will be done to our economy by the double impact of coronavirus and Brexit.
“The October deadline set by the EU means the clock is truly ticking on our Government to reach a deal that ensures jobs and businesses that survived the first wave of coronavirus aren’t lost at the turn of the year.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly insisted British businesses need time to prepare for changes so he will walk away rather than allow discussions to drag on.
Britain will leave the single market and the customs union and instead do business with the bloc using World Trade Organization rules if a deal cannot reached.