The United Kingdom and the European Union are continuing tough negotiations on Monday 7 December to try to find a post-Brexit agreement.

The European negotiator Michel Barnier informed the ambassadors of the Twenty-Seven that no progress had been recorded on Sunday on the three blocking subjects - fishing, the conditions of fair competition and the future mechanism of dispute settlement, indicated several European sources.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who on Saturday saw the extent of the gap between the two parties, are due to speak by phone in the afternoon or evening.

The implementation of the withdrawal treaty

British Minister Michael Gove is also traveling to Brussels on Monday to meet with European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic and discuss the implementation of the Withdrawal Treaty, which a British bill calls into question.

A very controversial bill currently under consideration in the British Parliament calls into question certain commitments made by the United Kingdom in the agreement governing its departure from the EU on January 31, in particular on Northern Ireland.

He returns to certain provisions for the British province of Northern Ireland, planned to avoid the return of a border with the Republic of Ireland, a safeguard considered essential to the maintenance of peace on the island.

This text, admittedly violating international law, provoked the anger of the EU and the opposition of the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament, which voted against these provisions.

But the government is expected to reintroduce them before presenting them to MPs on Monday afternoon, at an explosive time in the home stretch of negotiations on the future trade relationship between London and the 27.

This text constitutes "an insurance policy, it is to ensure that, whatever happens, the integrity of the United Kingdom is protected, explained Monday to the BBC James Cleverly, secretary of state at the ministry British Foreign Affairs. "Like all insurance policies, we would prefer not to have to rely on these clauses.

But, if we find ourselves in this difficult situation, it is better to have them, "he said.

Brexit formally occurred on January 31, but a transition period that freezes its effects began on that date to allow the two parties to agree on their future relations, especially trade.

It ends on December 31.

After this period, the divorce will become reality, with or without an agreement.

With AFP and Reuters

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