Yet another Brexit deadline looms; trade talks in rut
BRUSSELS (AP) — Almost by tradition, another Brexit deadline is looming. Just as much by tradition, talks are expected to continue afterward.
British negotiators traveled to European Union headquarters on Monday to start what has long been billed as another do-or-die session between both sides. The divorce was settled at the end of January when the U.K. left the spurned bloc. Now, the end of a transition period is drawing close and both sides have to decide what kind of trade deal, if any, they want.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has long billed the two-day EU summit that starts Thursday as an ultimate deadline. The 27-nation EU is willing to go on until early November to craft a deal, however basic, that could still save hundreds of thousands of jobs and prevent an even worse economic crisis than the coronavirus pandemic has already wrought.
On Monday, Johnson's spokesman said the U.K. still viewed this week's talks as crucial.
“Time is in short supply,” said James Slack. “We will work as hard as we can to see if we can get an agreement by Oct. 15. The EU themselves indicated to the U.K. negotiating team in July that mid-October was the last possible date for a deal.”
The urgency was highlighted by weekend phone calls between Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the Council president, were calling other EU leaders to make sure the bloc remained united.
In Paris, pressure was incraesed by yet another warning for businesses to prepare for a drastic rupture, possibly without a deal.
After months of talks, Britain and the EU appear to remain deadlocked on the key issues of fishing and rules to ensure fair economic competition. If there is any...
