EU expects ‘shadowboxing’ before a final Brexit deal

Negotiators keen to build confidence in latest round of talks, but a significant breakthrough is unlikely

EUROPEAN UNION sources expect next week’s Brexit talks to be a round of “shadowboxing”, after the UK and Brussels made concessions in the previous set of negotiations. About 50

British officials are expected to travel to Belgium on Tuesday, despite the country being on the UK’S coronavirus red list.

“Both sides have moved closer together but we see this round as laying the foundations for future breakthroughs,” an EU source close to the negotiations said. “Imagine two fencers sizing each other out or two fighters shadowboxing before the real engagement begins.”

The negotiators will return from a break that followed five solid weeks of intensified negotiations, which finally brought concessions from both sides.

The UK signalled that it would accept the future relationship being governed by a single treaty. Previously, it had insisted on a suite of separate agreements covering issues such as the trade deal and fishing rights.

Brussels, in return, finally accepted the British red line that the European Court of Justice could have no role in future UK-EU relations.

After this, hopes were raised that the following round of negotiations could bring further breakthroughs. On Thursday, David Frost, the UK’S chief negotiator, said the British assessment was that a deal could be done in September.

On the same day, Micheál Martin, the Irish premier, said a “landing zone” for an eventual trade deal had emerged.

However, significant divides remain, especially over fishing rights and the level-playing-field guarantees.

Michel Barnier, the EU’S chief negotiator, has said that both sides need to compromise over the question of European

boats’ access to UK waters. EU governments have demanded a status quo deal, but Britain wants a Norwaystyle fishing deal with annual negotiations over quotas.

A potential compromise could involve the EU agreeing to demands for zonal attachment, a method that better reflects where fish are found now, rather than the historic catch patterns.

While sources in Brussels are cautiously optimistic, they do not see this round of talks as the moment for the breakthrough on the long-deadlocked issue. “This round is about building confidence and seeing how we can build towards the final compromise in later rounds,” one EU source said.

The EU’S demand for level playing field guarantees on labour, environment, tax and state aid has also delayed progress in the trade negotiations.

UK and EU sources are bullish that the issue is almost settled, with the exception of state aid rules – a sensitive issue in the EU, amid fears that the UK will deregulate and exploit state support to gain a competitive advantage.