Chances of Brexit deal fading every day, EU Commission chief says

By Gabriela Baczynska and Guy Faulconbridge

 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a cabinet meeting at the Foreign Office in London, Britain September 15, 2020. Jonathan Buckmaster/Pool via REUTERS

 

BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - The head of the European Commission said on Wednesday the chances of reaching a trade deal with Britain were fading by the day as the British government pushes ahead with moves that would breach their divorce treaty.

 

The British government unveiled draft legislation last week which it acknowledges would violate its international legal obligations and undercut parts of the divorce deal it signed before Britain formally left the European Union in January.

 

Brussels wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to scrap what is known as the Internal Market bill, saying it could sink talks on future trade arrangements before Britain leaves the EU's single market, which it has remained part of during a status quo transition period that expires at the end of this year.

 

Johnson has refused.

 

"With every day that passes, the chances of a timely agreement do start to fade," said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, the EU executive.

 

In a speech to the European Parliament, she said the divorce agreement "cannot be unilaterally changed, disregarded or dis-applied".

 

"This is a matter of law, trust and good faith ... Trust is the foundation of any strong partnership," she said.

 

The British pound, which moves in line with perceptions of either a chaotic or orderly Brexit, held within striking distance of a two-month low on Wednesday.

 

The EU fears a disorderly Brexit if the terms of the trade relationship are not agreed, and former British prime ministers have said breaking the law is a step too far that undermines the country's image.

 

Johnson said it was essential to counter "absurd" threats from Brussels including that London be required to put up trade barriers between Britain and its province of Northern Ireland and that the EU would impose a food blockade. Such steps, he said, would threaten the unity of the United Kingdom.

 

"WAY THROUGH"

 

The Internal Market bill is being debated by British parliament, where Johnson faces opposition by some members of his governing Conservative Party.

 

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the government sees a 'way through' the parliamentary maze, and Johnson has been talking to the party rebels.

 

Buckland said there had been talks with Bob Neill, a Conservative lawmaker who has proposed amending the bill to ensure that any attempt to use the clauses that breach the Brexit divorce agreement receive prior approval from parliament.

 

Britain's Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis told parliament he stood by remarks he made last week that the bill would "break international law in a very specific and limited way".

He said he was optimistic about an eventual trade deal with the EU, however.

 

EU diplomatic sources told Reuters that if the bill was passed in its current form, Brussels felt it could not deal with London.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-16

 

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Yes, and it´s only UK that is hurting out of that result. Maybe even the pound is going to fall a little bit more. Sometimes it makes one wonder how much the citizens of the UK can take?

The Christmas Panto season started early this year didnt it.

Enough already.

Even Stevie Wonder can see this is going to be a no deal exit. Johnson cannot back down nor the EU.

It was always going to be like this.

Everything was oven ready Boris <<or rewind a bit it will turnout to be a better deal out than in >>fast forward to to now its an epic cluster of Domenico's wet dream????     

19 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Yes, and it´s only UK that is hurting out of that result. Maybe even the pound is going to fall a little bit more. Sometimes it makes one wonder how much the citizens of the UK can take?

a devalued pound might just be what england need

to be competitive.

nations cant just devalue on a whim these days,

but with this method no one can raise objection,

and england can export on the cheap

5 minutes ago, scammed said:

a devalued pound might just be what england need

to be competitive.

nations cant just devalue on a whim these days,

but with this method no one can raise objection,

and england can export on the cheap

Export what?

And by the way its UK not England.

Reuters bringing more good news to us. I rather get the impression that they don't think so though. Never mind, so long as the EU keeps going this way and if Ursula keeps her word, we will be free of their tentacles. 

24 minutes ago, scammed said:

a devalued pound might just be what england need

to be competitive.

nations cant just devalue on a whim these days,

but with this method no one can raise objection,

and england can export on the cheap

Yep! And I am sure there is a song called Dreamer. ????

Your dear Mr. Johnson would rather commit suicide before that. 

59 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Yes, and it´s only UK that is hurting out of that result. Maybe even the pound is going to fall a little bit more. Sometimes it makes one wonder how much the citizens of the UK can take?

as much as it takes,the price of freedom is never cheap,you don't get owt for nowt lad.

Edited September 16, 20205 yr by kingdong

Nobody can't count how much EU bring value "money" to eatch coundry! But all can see how much need pay there! Thats every coundry problem, to show people EU's benifit! But small brainless "pleb" never understand nothing! Never see forest from trees! Personaly i think UK make mistake but only time will tell!

the eu pigs are spewing even more bile as they near the cutoff date and their cash cow UK is gone forever.. the germans will have to make up the shortfall and they dont like it

5 minutes ago, kingdong said:

as much as it takes,the price of freedom is never cheap,you don't get owt for nowt lad.

Aye but you soon know when you bought a pig in a poke eh lad?

 

2 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

the eu pigs are spewing even more bile as they near the cutoff date and their cash cow UK is gone forever.. the germans will have to make up the shortfall and they dont like it

You dont understand do you? The EU has already accepted the UK is leaving.

Any shortfall in the EU budget will be offset by the tariffs collected on UK goods going to the EU.

Thats free money to the EU.

E.U. State of the Union 16 September  2020 
E.U. shall never backtrack on W.A. agreement

Edited September 16, 20205 yr by david555

44 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Export what?

And by the way its UK not England.

 OK , lets start with .

    Cornish pasties, 

    Cheddar cheese , 

    Haggis , oops thats Scottish ..555

BJ the unkempt straw head, signed the separation agreement with the EU with his own hand in January 2020. Stable and reliable contract policy looks different. The UK is internationally on the way to becoming a banana republic. The UK is currently no longer at all credible as a contractual partner.

 

1 minute ago, elliss said:

 OK , lets start with .

    Cornish pasties, 

    Cheddar cheese , 

    Haggis , oops thats Scottish ..555

Yes I am sure that exports of that stuff will more than make up for the shortfall in our exports subject to tariffs in our biggest market.

After all the financial services industry in the City of London pale in significance to the revenue generated from Melton Mowbray  pork pies.

You are also a cad sir because now I have a serious want for a Melton Mowbray pork pie. ????

59 minutes ago, Loiner said:

Reuters bringing more good news to us. I rather get the impression that they don't think so though. Never mind, so long as the EU keeps going this way and if Ursula keeps her word, we will be free of their tentacles. 

 

Boris has proven he has no intention of keeping his?

Edited September 16, 20205 yr by 7by7

18 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Aye but you soon know when you bought a pig in a poke eh lad?

 

cheaper than buying a white elephant,ie the uks membership fees into barniers gang boyo.

18 minutes ago, elliss said:

 OK , lets start with .

    Cornish pasties, 

    Cheddar cheese , 

    Haggis , oops thats Scottish ..555

I'm sorry, but unfortunately the UK imports significantly more cheese than it exports. The cheddar cheese is not going to save the UK. 555

 

https://ahdb.org.uk/dairy/uk-cheese-trade

And Boris makes the situation worse every day. And the UK voters wanted Boris and Brexit. Amazing UK.

I wish them good luck. They will need a lot of that.

 

 

5 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And Boris makes the situation worse every day. And the UK voters wanted Boris and Brexit. Amazing UK.

I wish them good luck. They will need a lot of that.

 

 

Boris is getting better every day. We will make our own luck thanks. 

 

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And Boris makes the situation worse every day. And the UK voters wanted Boris and Brexit. Amazing UK.

I wish them good luck. They will need a lot of that.

 

 

and what were the options,momentum,sorry corbyns mob?britain would have needed more than good luck if that shower of <deleted> had got in.

27 minutes ago, kingdong said:

cheaper than buying a white elephant,ie the uks membership fees into barniers gang boyo.

You will still be paying for the white elephant through tariffs.

Ironic aint it?

Just now, kingdong said:

and what were the options,momentum,sorry corbyns mob?britain would have needed more than good luck if that shower of <deleted> had got in.

We will never know.

You won.

5 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

You will still be paying for the white elephant through tariffs.

Ironic aint it?

should get a few bob for that big red bus,tariffs?theres a whole world out there outside the eu.

Edited September 16, 20205 yr by kingdong

5 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

We will never know.

You won.

what did i win?did an apprenticeship and lost my job through thatcher,retrained and lost my job through labour who i always (past tense ) voted for,so never mind me, so  who do,es the working man in britain supposed to vote for?

9 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

the eu pigs are spewing even more bile as they near the cutoff date and their cash cow UK is gone forever.. the germans will have to make up the shortfall and they dont like it

The vast majority of the bile being spewed is by Little Englander Brexiters. 

 

"eu pigs", eh?

 

PH

3 minutes ago, Phulublub said:

The vast majority of the bile being spewed is by Little Englander Brexiters. 

 

"eu pigs", eh?

 

PH

You having a bad day dear? Only6.50 and you are getting upset, go back to bed and start again, maybe then you will feel better. Land of hope and glory mother of the free.????????

"Freedom's just another word for

Nothing left to lose"

Who knew BJ was fan of Kris?