On eve of UK deadline, trade talks with EU still stalled
BRUSSELS (AP) — On the eve of a European Union summit which British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set as a deadline to get a post-Brexit trade agreement between both sides, talks remained in a deep rut over fundamental differences regarding anything from state aid to fisheries.
EU nations are already looking to the end of the month, when they see the ultimate deadline for an agreement if they still want to get it through legal vetting and parliamentary approvals before Jan. 1.
A trade deal for the EU and the recently departed U.K. would have the potential to save hundreds of thousands of jobs and not acerbate the worst economic crisis in decades brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, despite having fully intertwined economies until Britain officially left the EU on Jan. 31, differences over cooperation remain huge.
In draft summit conclusions obtained by The Associated Press, the 27 leaders will note “with concern that progress on the key issues of interest to the Union is still not sufficient for an agreement.''
Britain also feels some momentum that was generated two weeks ago has failed to produce sufficient results and continues to be baffled that the EU is driving what it sees as an extremely hard bargain. The EU says Britain simply seeks to maintain the advantages of membership it had without the commitment to play by the bloc's rules.
Johnson should decide by the end of the week whether to pull the plug on the talks, but officials from both sides who are close to the negotiations point to them continuing for a few more weeks.
To push negotiators toward that slim area of possible common ground, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will have a video call with Johnson later Wednesday. Few expect Johnson to pull the plug on the...
