THE UK’s chief EU negotiator David Frost and his EU opposite number Michel Barnier have given their verdicts to the media at the end of a round of “intensified talks” in London. Here are some of the key points that emerged:
An ocean remains between the UK and EU on fisheries
One of the biggest areas of difference remains around the UK’s post-Brexit fisheries policy, with Barnier describing the UK’s position as “simply unacceptable”.
He told a London press conference: “On fisheries, the UK is effectively seeking for near-total exclusion of fishing vessels from the UK’s water. That is simply unacceptable.”
Frost said until the UK is able to control its fishing grounds “then it will be difficult to reach an agreement”.
READ MORE: Mixed messages from UK and EU on Brexit negotiations
A senior UK Government official close to the talks later confirmed a deal on fisheries is unlikely unless the EU accepts that the UK will control who can fish in British waters after the transition period.
Playing hardball on the level playing field
The EU is concerned that the UK is straying from the previously agreed political declaration in terms of its approach to the so-called level playing field arrangements.
Barnier said: “On the level playing field, the UK still refuses to commit to maintaining high standards in a meaningful way. On state aid, despite a clear warning in the political declaration, very clear, we have made no progress at all.
“This is all the more worrying because we have no visibility on the UK’s intention on its future domestic subsidy control system and regime.”
The UK wants its sovereignty to be respected
Frost said the EU must respect the UK as “an independent state”.
He added: “When we began this intensified negotiating process a month or so ago, the Prime Minister set out the principles to [European] Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that were intrinsic to our status and future as an independent state. And the EU has heard some of that but it hasn’t heard all of it and the big underlying difficulty is the fact [the EU] hasn’t yet recognised it needs to adapt its position to those principles if we’re going to reach an agreement.”
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