Fate of Brexit talks in balance at EU summit
Brussels, Thursday
European leaders meet on Thursday seemingly determined to resist pressure from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give ground in post-Brexit trade negotiations.
The 27 leaders have tried to keep Brexit off the agenda at their recent summits, trusting in EU negotiator Michel Barnier to defend their interests.
But Johnson, frustrated at the slow progress towards a new trade deal, warned on Wednesday that he would decide after the meeting whether to pull the plug on talks.
He has warned that he could walk away from the negotiations unless the results of the latest two-day Brussels’ summit point the way to a breakthrough, but EU officials do not recognise his deadline, and insist they remain united in their demands.
The leaders were to tackle Brexit first when they gather for their summit in Brussels on Thursday, but a draft of their conclusions seen by AFP offered little to London.
A earlier version circulating on Wednesday had proposed that Barnier “intensify” his discussions with UK negotiator David Frost in order to reach a deal quickly that could be ratified and implemented before Britain leaves the single market on December 31.
Leaders gathered
But the latest draft seen by AFP as the leaders gathered had dropped this word and says merely that the summit urges negotiators “to continue negotiations in the coming weeks, and calls on the UK to make the necessary moves to make an agreement possible.”
During a cross-Channel call on the eve of the crunch talks, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen warned that there was “still a lot of work ahead of us” adding that Brussels wants a deal but “not at any price”.
“Conditions must be right, on fisheries, level-playing field and governance,” she warned.
A Downing Street spokesman said that during the call Johnson, talking to von der Leyen and EU summit host Charles Michel, had “expressed his disappointment that more progress had not been made over the past two weeks.”
“The prime minister said that he looked forward to hearing the outcome of the European Council and would reflect before setting out the UK’s next steps,” the spokesman said.
The British side has accused Brussels of trying to force concessions by running down the clock.
UK negotiators want Barnier’s team to produce draft legal texts to serve as the basis of the next rounds of talks, but EU officials say the sides are still not close enough on the remaining tough issues.
European diplomats say Brussels is still hoping for a deal, but is looking for a sign from Johnson that he is serious about compromise on the EU priorities.
“We need to lower the landing gear. We’re approaching the runway. Is he thinking about landing or is he still at 10,000 metres?” one asked.
Diplomats said there had been some movement from Britain, but not enough to warrant locking the negotiators into a so-called “diplomatic tunnel” to force the talks over the finish line. - AFP
