06 December 2019

The Guardian: EU distances itself from Johnson’s timetable for post-Brexit trade deal

EU leaders will promise to move “swiftly” to the next phase of UK negotiations, according to a leaked version of their communique to be adopted at a summit next Friday – the day after the general election.

But a reference to “making the best possible use of the limited time available” that was contained in an earlier version of the text has been dropped. EU ambassadors preparing the document have serious doubts about the 11-month timetable and opposed sending this positive signal to Johnson.

The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said it would be possible to negotiate a basic free-trade deal with the UK in 11 months. Others are more sceptical, with one senior diplomat saying he could not imagine it in his wildest dreams.

Some diplomats are counting on Johnson to abandon his principles, encouraged by earlier U-turns, such as his broken promise to the Democratic Unionist party not to have a border in the Irish Sea, as well as his “do or die” pledge to leave the EU on 31 October.

“Of course Boris said he would rather die in a ditch; he didn’t die in a ditch, but he accepted to go beyond 31 October,” said one senior EU diplomat. “It is not unlikely that there could be an extension of the transition period.”

The diplomat added that Johnson had proved “more pragmatic than anyone expected”.

The UK can extend the Brexit transition period once for one or two years, but must agree this extension with the EU before 1 July 2020.

The latest EU text also has a reference to “the level playing field”, meaning the UK must respect core EU standards on workers’ rights, state aid, and environmental and consumer protection, to reach a deal ensuring zero tariffs and zero quotas on British goods. [...]

Full article on The Guardian

© The Guardian