The latest round of Brexit talks between the UK and Brussels have ended a day early with “significant differences” between them both, said the UK’s chief negotiator.
The UK’s chief negotiator David Frost and the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier were due to hold talks until Friday, but were able to complete the talks with three days.
Frost said, “We have completed our discussion of the full range of issues in the negotiation in just over three days.
“Our talks were face-to-face for the first time since March and this has given extra depth and flexibility to our discussions.
“The negotiations have been comprehensive and useful. But they have also underlined the significant differences that still remain between us on a number of important issues.”
However, Barnier insists there are still “serious divergences” that remain between the EU and the UK.
The EU engaged constructively in this week’s restricted round of 🇪🇺🇬🇧 negotiations, in line with our mandate. We now need equivalent engagement from the UK.
Read my statement following this week’s talks👇🏻https://t.co/Hu2agmgs6N
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) July 2, 2020
Barnier told reporters, “The EU side had listened carefully to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statements in recent weeks, in particular, his request to reach a political agreement quickly, and his red lines: no role for the European Court of Justice in the UK; no obligation for the UK to continue to be bound by EU law, and an agreement on fisheries that shows Brexit makes a real difference.”
“The EU engaged constructively, as we had already done during the fourth round of negotiations in June.”
Banier went to say that there will be no economic partnership unless there are guarantees of a level playing field and a long -term solution over fisheries.
Adding there must be an “overarching institutional framework and effective dispute settlement mechanisms.”
This week the German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned her parliament to be “prepared” for the possibility of a new deal.
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