Brexit: Brussels deplores the silence of London in the face of a contested bill

Negotiations on the post-Brexit relationship are in their home stretch, but London is holding back talks.

The United Kingdom ignored the European Union's ultimatum concerning its law revoking Brexit, by not responding in time to a "formal notice" from Brussels, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (November 3rd).

"To date, the EU has not received any response from the UK," said a spokesperson for the EU executive.

"We are considering the next steps, including the issuance of a 'reasoned opinion' [last step before the possible referral to European justice]", he added.

London and Brussels have always tried to dissociate as much as possible their litigation on the draft law on the internal market, partly reverting to Brexit, from the trade talks which have entered "a critical phase" a few days ago, according to the Commission.

This desire not to let this controversy jeopardize the negotiations may explain the EU's caution before going any further.

An ultimatum issued in the United Kingdom

The Commission opened infringement proceedings against the UK on 1 October because of its law.

London had a month to respond.

The bill in question calls into question certain commitments made by the United Kingdom in the agreement governing its departure from the EU on January 31, 2020. It goes back in particular to measures taken to prevent the return from a border to Ireland , a safeguard considered essential to the maintenance of peace.

>> See and read also on France 24: 

Approved at the end of September by British MPs, the text is still under consideration in the House of Lords and a vote is expected in the coming weeks.

Brussels hopes that the problematic provisions will be removed in the event of a trade deal, which negotiators hope to conclude before mid-November.

Stubborn obstacles to an agreement

Three subjects are still problematic: the access of Europeans to fish-rich British waters, the guarantees demanded in London in terms of competition, and the way of settling disputes in the future agreement.

"We are not there yet. There is still a lot of work ahead of us," said the Commission spokesperson.

And "we have not yet found a solution on fishing", one of the most sensitive subjects, he acknowledged.

The UK, which officially left the EU on January 31, continues to apply European standards until the end of the year.

London and Brussels have since struggled to negotiate a trade deal that would take effect on January 1, 2021, to avoid a potentially devastating deal-less departure for the economy.

With AFP

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR