European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen has told Members of European Parliament (MEPs) that a no-deal Brexit remains a possibility, but that the next days will be ‘decisive’ as to whether negotiators can strike an agreement with the UK.
She intimated that the coming days in the Brexit negotiations will be “decisive” as to whether Britain and the EU are able to agree a free trade deal.
The former German defence minister however warned that talks could still fail stressing that “the European Union is well prepared for a no-deal scenario.
“With very little time ahead of us, we will do all in our power to reach an agreement. We are ready to be creative.
“I cannot tell you today if in the end there will be a deal. There has been genuine progress on important questions.”
Teams are currently holding meetings virtually after a member of EU negotiator Michel Barnier’s staff tested positive for coronavirus last week.
The Frenchman had been expected to travel to London later this week once he has finished his period of self-isolation in line with Belgian health rules.
A UK government spokesman told reporters, “We now need to see more realism from the EU on what it means for the UK to be an independent state.”
EU ambassadors say the text of a future trade pact is “95% done”, but that both sides are still trying to bridge their differences over key issues that have hampered progress for months.
They include rules to prevent unfair competition, how to police a deal if and when it is agreed, and the issue of fishing rights for EU trawlers in British waters.
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson had earlier told parliament that the “position on fishing hasn’t changed. We’ll only be able to make progress if the EU accepts the reality that we must be able to control access to our waters and it’s very important at this stage to emphasise that.”
He also cautioned that it’s time to “get ready” for the prospect of no free trade deal with the EU on 1st January 2020. He claimed Brussels had “abandoned” the ambition but insisted “we always knew there would be changes” next year once the Brexit transition period ends.
Britain officially left the EU on January 31st of this year. But a transition phase, in which it follows all EU rules, ends on December 31st.
A so-called No Deal Brexit would mean that both the UK and the EU would have to trade from January 1st based on World Trade Organization rules, which would see huge tariffs slapped on goods flowing in both directions.
Michael Gove, a senior British government minister has said that he hopes the UK will “secure a good deal with the European Union.”
He added that the “European Union needs to move as well, and it needs to acknowledge that we voted to take back control and that’s the most important thing.”
