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Brussels (AP) - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sees decisive progress on the way to a Brexit trade pact with Great Britain.
"I can not tell you whether we will reach an agreement or not," said von der Leyen in the European Parliament.
"But I can tell you that there is now a path to an agreement" - it is narrow, but there.
Progress was made on two of the three main points of contention: the struggle for fair competition in future trade and the implementation of the hoped-for agreement.
The dispute over fishing rights remains very difficult.
"Sometimes it feels like we can never solve this question," said von der Leyen.
Nevertheless, one has to keep trying.
The next few days will be decisive, confirmed von der Leyen.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on the same day in the London House of Commons: "I hope that our friends and partners on the other side of the Channel will find their senses and make a deal."
All the EU has to do is recognize that Britain, like any other country, wants to have its own laws and its own fishing grounds.
Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, however, his country would “flourish mightily”, stressed Johnson again.
The European Union has been negotiating a follow-up agreement with Great Britain for months after the Brexit transition phase.
This ends on December 31st.
But the breakthrough is still missing and a treaty has yet to be ratified.
Von der Leyen did not say how this should still be possible.
She only stressed in general that she was counting on the support of the EU Parliament.
Von der Leyen described the concrete progress made in the negotiations as follows: In the dispute over fair competitive conditions - the so-called level playing field - progress had been made in that if aid rules were violated, "the situation could be remedied autonomously if necessary".
In terms of environmental and social standards, the EU had negotiated “a strong mechanism against regression”.
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"This is a big step forward," said the EU Commission chief.
"Difficulties remain as to how fair competition can be made future-proof."
The points of contention in the enforcement of the agreement, the so-called governance, are largely resolved.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201216-99-718324 / 2