Britain could sign transition deal with EU on Monday
BRITAIN is poised to tie up a ‘crucial’ Brexit transition deal with Brussels within days that would see the UK fully leave the EU by the end of 2020.
Theresa May has been under mounting pressure to conclude the agreement after promising businesses the matter would be resolved by the end of March.
Despite remaining issues of contention in a number of areas, officials yesterday said both sides were ‘closing the gaps’ and that a provisional deal could be reached by Monday.
With EU leaders poised to sign off the deal during a crunch summit at the end of next week, both the UK and Brussels have indicated that the differences are being reconciled.
Brexit Secretary David Davis pointed to an imminent arrangement, which will effectively keep the UK fully tied to the bloc for two years after Brexit.
He said a deal was ‘in reach’ and confirmed that the Government had accepted the EU’s demands for a shorter transition period, ending in December 2020. ‘I’m not bothered too much about the question of
‘Both sides are closing the gaps’
whether it is Christmas 2020 or Easter 2021,’ he said. ‘I would live with that. We are still in the middle of a negotiation.’
The UK initially wanted the deal to conclude in March 2021, but the EU has insisted on an earlier end-point so it matches the conclusion of the bloc’s current long-term budget.
Mr Davis will meet the EU’s top negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Monday. Insiders said his rare appearance in Brussels, a trend that has led to criticism from EU counterparts, highlighted British optimism that a resolution is near.
With a flurry of negotiations planned to take place over the weekend, both Mr Barnier and Mr Davis are poised to present a legal text detailing the scope of the transition deal.
An updated draft legal version of the final Brexit agreement, published by the European Commission yesterday, highlighted signs of compromise.
It tackled concerns over EU laws passed during the timeframe and provided more clarity on fishing quotas.