EU chief voices fears over trade deadline
Commission president has ‘serious concern’ over ending talks on future relations by end of 2020
A new trading relationship with the EU may not be feasible by the end of next year, the European Commission president has said. Ursula von der Leyen said she had “serious concern” over Boris Johnson’s 11-month time frame and hinted at extending the transition period, something the Prime Minister has dismissed. Talks on trade, fisheries, education and transport can only begin after the UK has ratified the Withdrawal Agreement and must conclude this time next year.
A NEW trading relationship with the European Union may not be “feasible” by the end of next year, Ursula von der Leyen has warned.
The new European Commission president said she had “serious concern” over Boris Johnson’s 11-month time frame in which to reach a new trade deal with the EU.
“It’s not only about negotiating a free trade deal but many other subjects,” Ms Von der Leyen said in an interview with the French newspaper Les Echos.
“It seems to me that on both sides we must ask ourselves seriously if all these negotiations are feasible in such a short time.”
Negotiations on future trade, fisheries, education and transport relations can only begin after the UK has ratified the Withdrawal Agreement and must conclude by the end of 2020.
Ms Von der Leyen said: “I am very concerned about how little time we have. I think it would be reasonable to take stock in the middle of the year and, if necessary, agree on an extension to the transition period.”
However, the Prime Minister has insisted he will not agree to any extension. After winning his 80-strong Commons majority Mr Johnson enshrined into his Brexit Bill a guarantee that Britain would leave, with or without a trade deal, by the end of 2020.
Before the Christmas recess, MPS passed his deal on its second reading with a majority of 124 votes, ending a year of Commons turmoil over Brexit.
The Withdrawal Bill is due to be fasttracked through Parliament when it returns in January, ahead of the official Brexit date at the end of the month.
Mr Johnson announced plans in the Queen’s Speech to axe the Department for Exiting the European Union after that date, with trade negotiations being undertaken by the Cabinet Office.
EU diplomats were informed last week by the European Commission that there was no legal basis to agree an extension any later than that date.
A Government spokesman said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that we will not be extending the implementation period. The EU and the UK committed to agreeing a future partnership by the end of 2020 in the political declaration and have agreed to work with great energy to achieve this.”
Under Article 50 of the EU’S Lisbon Treaty rule book, which governs how countries leave the bloc, any new extension to the departure process must be agreed by June 30 next year.
Meanwhile, it emerged that Brussels is planning to target the UK’S strength as a financial centre after Brexit.
The EU will threaten City firms with a lack of access to continental markets unless it agrees to keep “equivalence”, a level playing field for rules and regulations. British commerce could also lose access to important data flows under plans being prepared by the bloc.