In a digital meeting with European and German parliamentarians, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is waiting “a good end” for the negotiation of the Brexit and acknowledged that some partners are “uneasy” because time is running out for negotiations between Brussels and London.
“We don’t need an agreement at any cost,” said the chancellor, who nevertheless felt it would be “in everyone’s interest” to come to an understanding with London. Merkel also added that should a consensus solution not be reached with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government, the EU will take the “necessary measures.”
British government not respected agreed deals
After agreeing on the terms of the EU’s departure, London had yet to negotiate with Brussels what its future relationship was going to be like, a process that has run into a number of problems in recent months, including the British Government’s decision to call into question some of what was agreed in relation to Ireland.
Merkel successfully desisted in these negotiations the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Community negotiator for the Brexit, Michael Barnier. He further noted that the European leaders’ summit on 10 and 11 December will be key to this issue.
Barnier travelled to London last Friday to resume contacts for a week that is expected key to reaching an agreement. The Community negotiator then stated that “the same significant divergences” persist, i.e. those relating to guarantees to ensure fair competition between British and Community companies, fisheries and mechanisms for resolving disputes over the future agreement.
“These are decisive days for our negotiations with the UK but, frankly, today I cannot assure you that in the end there will be an agreement,” European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen told the Eurochamber last Wednesday.
Advances in transport, energy and police cooperation
Some progress has been made in recent days on state aid and progress in secondary areas such as transport, energy and police and judicial cooperation, but the UK and the EU still do not close the pact.
On 1 January, Community legislation will no longer apply on British territory and the United Kingdom will ultimately be a third country. Before the end of the year, not only must the pact be achieved, but ratification must also be carried out in the United Kingdom and the European Union in order for the hypothetical agreement to enter into force on the first day of 2021.
