EU chief negotiator sets out Brussel’s position with UK on trade deal

Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier set out the European Commission draft negotiating mandate which lays out Spanish and French will be allowed to fish in British waters.

Barnier also called for “robust commitments ensuring a level playing field for open and fair competition” which prevents the UK from cutting standards or subsiding British companies.

Ursula von der Leyen the EU’s Commission president said, “we will defend EU interests, and the interests of our citizens, right until the end.”

He told a packed press conference in Brussels if the UK maintains standards with the EU then higher access will be granted to get to EU markets.

He said, “This will be up to the UK to decide. Will it continue to adhere to Europe’s societal and regulatory model in the future or will it seek to diverge?

“The UK’s answer to this question will be fundamental to the level of our ambition of our future relationship. The UK must know this.”

A security partnership was proposed between the UK and the bloc, but this depends on the European Court of Justice playing the full role.

This will most likely be rejected as the British foreign secretary Dominic Raab has made it quite clear that Britain will “not be aligning with EU rules” in any post-Brexit trade deal.