EU, UK to step up Brexit talks to try to close 'significant gaps' over trade deal

By Sarah Young and William James

 

FILE PHOTO: Pound coins are placed on broken glass and British flag in this illustration picture taken January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the head of the EU's executive, Ursula von der Leyen, agreed in a phone call on Saturday to step up Brexit talks to close "significant gaps" barring a new trade partnership.

 

The two sides have said this week's round of negotiations aimed at getting a new, post-Brexit trade agreement from 2021 made some progress but not yielded a breakthrough.

 

The EU says a deal must be sealed by the end of the month - or in the first days of November at the very latest - to leave enough time for ratification in the bloc by the end of the year.

 

Johnson and von der Leyen discussed the next steps in their call on Saturday.

 

"They agreed on the importance of finding an agreement, if at all possible, as a strong basis for a strategic EU-UK relationship in future," they said in a joint statement.

 

"Progress had been made in recent weeks but ... significant gaps remained, notably but not only in the areas of fisheries, the level playing field, and governance," it added.

 

The two leaders instructed their Brexit negotiators, Michel Barnier and David Frost, "to work intensively in order to try to bridge those gaps".

 

Johnson said earlier on Saturday the UK continued to push for a Canada-style deal with the EU, but was also ready to sever current close-knit trade ties and default to general World Trade Organization rules, which include quotas and tariffs.

 

"I think there's a good deal to be done," he said. "There's a big opportunity for both sides to do well."

 

More trade talks are due in London next week and in Brussels the following week before the 27 national EU leaders meet on Oct. 15-16 to assess progress. London has also said it wants clarity by Oct. 15 on whether a deal is possible or not.

 

An estimated trillion euros worth of annual trade would be at stake if they fail to get an agreement.

 

The EU says it will not implement any new deal if London undermines their earlier Brexit divorce treaty with its draft Internal Market Bill.

 

With time running out, controversy over the new domestic UK law backed by Johnson has cast fresh doubt on whether a deal was possible. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, said on Friday she was still "optimistic".

 

The EU believes the British government is split between hawks like Johnson's aide Dominic Cummings, the architect of the 2016 "Leave" campaign, and those Brussels sees as more moderate like Frost on whether to push for a deal or leave without one.

 

British foreign minister Dominic Raab, seen as part of the former faction, said separately on Saturday that the EU no longer had the power to treat Britain poorly.

 

"Yes, we want a free trade deal with the EU, but any deal must be fair. The days of being held over a barrel by Brussels are long gone," Raab told the Conservative Party's annual conference.

 

(Additional reporting and writing by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels, Editing by Giles Elgood, Christina Fincher and Hugh Lawson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-04

 

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Brittain rules the caves ....

Johnson stalling while he tries to figure out how to sell what is essentially Teresa Mays deal to the Brexit fundamentalists while pretending its NOT Teresa Mays deal. ????

Off-topic post and reply reported and removed.

 

Don't blink Boris, they are on the rails.........????

9 hours ago, Jack Mountain said:

Brittain rules the caves ....

Britain is one t not two....and we will certainly not be ruled by faceless unelected EU bureaucrats that,s for sure

Just now, petermik said:

Britain is one t not two....and we will certainly not be ruled by faceless unelected EU bureaucrats that,s for sure

No, you’re being ruled by an unelected monarch. ???? 

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

No, you’re being ruled by an unelected monarch. ???? 

Explain...?

7 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

No, you’re being ruled by an unelected monarch. ???? 

 

7 hours ago, transam said:

Explain...?

He cannot...just clutching at straws

2 minutes ago, transam said:

Explain...?

The UK’s head of state and commander in chief who decides over all laws is an unelected monarch. 

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

No, you’re being ruled by an unelected monarch. ???? 

To be ruled by a monarch, that said monarch must have total control of its people. The monarch does not have such control, she is just a figurehead and who else would we put on our stamps. You are just using this to excuse your unelected EU leaders.

Just now, vogie said:

To be ruled by a monarch, that said monarch must have total control of its people. The monarch does not have such control, she is just a figurehead and who else would we put on our stamps.

She does have control. You’re making things up. 
 

Just now, vogie said:

 

You are just using this to excuse your unelected EU leaders.

Again, you’re making things up. Just using your false claims about EU leaders being “unelected” as an excuse for your unelected head of state. 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"Yes, we want a free trade deal with the EU, but any deal must be fair.

Fair is a relative concept. 

What one consider as unjust, may be considered as fair by another.

11 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

The UK’s head of state and commander in chief who decides over all laws is an unelected monarch. 

I think you are wondering off topic chap...

Also, the PEOPLE voted for Brexit and so we have it, not a "Monarch", nor even stop it or interfere did they....???? 

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

She does have control. You’re making things up. 
 

Again, you’re making things up. Just using your false claims about EU leaders being “unelected” as an excuse for your unelected head of state. 

She does not have total control, she cannot enter parliament without their permission, that's how much power she has. Gone are the days of devine Kings and Queens, that is the reserve of Ursula von der Leyen.

3 minutes ago, vogie said:

She does not have total control, she cannot enter parliament without their permission, that's how much power she has. Gone are the days of devine Kings and Queens, that is the reserve of Ursula von der Leyen.

Yep, and isn't it strange that someone would bring up "The Queen" in a topic when they know nothing of her role or actual duties....

5 minutes ago, vogie said:

She does not have total control, she cannot enter parliament without their permission, that's how much power she has. Gone are the days of devine Kings and Queens, that is the reserve of Ursula von der Leyen.

Our King ( Belgium ) has also still some powers, but he can not dictate parliament.

I still have  problems with the so called powers of Mrs. von der Leyen.

It would help if  I would know what specific directives she instructed the Belgian government.

So far I still believe the Belgian government is still in power to make on his own laws and regulations for its citizens.

And it is my belief this is the case for every member of the E.U..

 

 

39 minutes ago, petermik said:

Britain is one t not two....and we will certainly not be ruled by faceless unelected EU bureaucrats that,s for sure

What about the unelected house of Lords?

Or the unelected Dominic Cummins?

Or the unelected bureaucrats in every government department?

 

2 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

What about the unelected house of Lords?

Or the unelected Dominic Cummins?

Or the unelected bureaucrats in every government department?

 

I hope we in Belgium don't have to vote for everyone and everything.

Federal elections were hold on 26th. May 2019, we finally got a government last week, it took so long despite the choice of the voters.

26 minutes ago, vogie said:

She does not have total control, she cannot enter parliament without their permission, that's how much power she has.

She’s deciding all laws. She doesn’t even have to enter parliament. That’s how much power she has. 

 

 

52 minutes ago, transam said:

Don't blink Boris, they are on the rails.........????

Why has Johnson been forced to beg for a talks extension if its the EU thats on the rails?

According to all you Brexiteers on here he is perfectly happy with no deal so why the need for a delay?

Fact is that its him thats blinking so much Optrex cant keep up with demand. ????

We will never agree a deal unless Boris bends over and totally submits (which he probably will). The EUSSR don't want a normal deal like the ones they have with other free countries. They just want to punish Britain so the other 27 don't rush for the door.

Just now, welovesundaysatspace said:

She’s deciding all laws. She doesn’t even have to enter parliament. That’s how much power she has. 

 

 

She doesn't "decide' all laws, she signs whatever is put in front of her as part of our tradition, it is a formality only.

 

3 minutes ago, vogie said:

She doesn't "decide' all laws, she signs whatever is put in front of her as part of our tradition, it is a formality only.

 

I’m afraid you’re wrong. She has the power to decide however she likes, ie. not a formality. 

5 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

I’m afraid you’re wrong. She has the power to decide however she likes, ie. not a formality. 

The last time a bill was refused assent by the sovereign was in 1708 by Queen Anne, so either parliament are making great decisions all the time or the monarch is obliged to sign what is put in front of them, you decide. Just accept that the EUs leaders are unelected beaurocrats and stop trying to deflect all the time, bye bye everyone, bye bye.

18 minutes ago, Henryford said:

They just want to punish Britain so the other 27 don't rush for the door.

I am agree there may be something as "punishing".

 

However claiming that the 27 members of the E.U. all want to rush the door, is something I would qualify as overstate.

 

I suppose no-one will deny that for the moment Brexit is a mess.

 

We will have to wait next year, and several years more, to see concrete results.

 

If positive, some other countries in the E.U. may decide to leave the E.U. as well.

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

too bad “the PEOPLE” can’t elect your head of state and commander in chief; the person who decides all U.K. laws. 

Try starting your own thread chap.....????

30 minutes ago, Henryford said:

We will never agree a deal unless Boris bends over and totally submits (which he probably will). The EUSSR don't want a normal deal like the ones they have with other free countries. They just want to punish Britain so the other 27 don't rush for the door.

Certainly an element of truth in this statement and why shouldn't the EU punish the UK?.......It is to their benefit in terms of pursuing their political and economic objectives to punish us............In terms of securing a deal (the easiest one in history) the terms of the deal will inevitably be used to punish us.......or worse, we will end up with no deal. 

 

The only people who will suffer are the little people......Remainers and Brexiteers.....the Tory gammons are financially secure and don't give a flying ****.

11 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Certainly an element of truth in this statement and why shouldn't the EU punish the UK?.......It is to their benefit in terms of pursuing their political and economic objectives to punish us............In terms of securing a deal (the easiest one in history) the terms of the deal will inevitably be used to punish us.......or worse, we will end up with no deal. 

 

The only people who will suffer are the little people......Remainers and Brexiteers.....the Tory gammons are financially secure and don't give a flying ****.

Surely not.....????

21 minutes ago, vogie said:

Just accept that the EUs leaders are unelected beaurocrats

Frankly I don't see the problem they are unelected.

 

It will maybe worried me if I find out that they intervene concretely in my government decisions.

 

In fact only if they intervene negatively for me and other men in the street.