Post-Brexit agreement: negotiations will finally continue

Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Downing Street in London on December 10, 2020. REUTERS - SIMON DAWSON

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Brexit negotiators will finally play extra time.

After a telephone interview with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Sunday the continuation of discussions on the future relations between the European Union and the Kingdom United at the end of the transition period on January 1, 2021. Despite everything, nothing says that a breakthrough has taken place this weekend.

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With our correspondent in London,

Muriel Delcroix

The negotiations are therefore off again for a round but for how long?

No deadline has been set this time and the only deadline that matters now is the end of the transition period, December 31.

Has there been a breakthrough, however small, that could explain this new attempt?

The fact that London and Brussels have issued a joint press release which speaks of a "useful and constructive" exchange could lead one to believe so.

But from there to seeing in it a real dynamic that could lead to an agreement, it is a step that neither the Europeans nor Boris Johnson have taken;

the Prime Minister also insisted on repeating it on British television: " 

It is possible to find an agreement, but our positions are still very distant on key points: the United Kingdom cannot be locked in the regulatory orbit of the EU and we obviously need to regain control of our fisheries.

We will continue to try, but in the meantime, let us confidently prepare to trade on January 1 under WTO rules, if necessary. 

"

This is not quite the tone of a leader who is about to strike a deal, perhaps to keep the pressure on the EU and wrest a last-minute concession from it, much to the chagrin of British companies which demand, in full panic now, a clear outcome.

► To read also:

Brexit, which still blocks: fishing, competition and dispute settlement

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