A former French Minister has said that the British government must be “more realistic” with post-Brexit trade deal talks.
MEP Nathalie Loiseau said it is possible a deal can be achieved, but “much progress has to be made in the negotiation,” for a Brexit trade deal.
Negotiations ended on Friday and the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said there had been “no significant areas of progress.”
Loiseau told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, “For the time being, the UK negotiator is asking, for instance, for freedom of movement for service providers coming from the UK – we have never provided it to any of our trade partners.
“He is asking for reciprocity in terms of professional qualifications. This is something that we provide only to member states.
“So, the UK side has to become more realistic.”
A sticking point in the negotiations is the level playing field which prevents the UK from undercutting EU standards, such as workers’ rights.
She said, “We believe on both sides of the Channel in high standards – so why don’t we keep them?
“Why don’t we commit ourselves legally as we have already done politically to keep these standards high, now and in the future?
“To have high standards, converging standards, equivalent standards, for the benefit of our peoples.”
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