Brexit: PM ‘disappointed’ with progress ahead of EU summit

Boris Johnson will resolve on the “subsequent steps” for post-Brexit commerce talks after an EU summit later this week, Downing Avenue has mentioned.

No 10 mentioned the PM expressed “disappointment” at current progress in a name with EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

Mr Johnson has beforehand set Thursday’s assembly of EU leaders because the deadline for a deal.

Mrs von der Leyen mentioned the EU wished a deal, “however not at any worth”.

Either side are calling on the opposite to compromise on key points, together with fishing and limits on authorities subsidies to companies.

They’re locked in talks over placing an settlement to control their buying and selling relationship as soon as the UK’s post-Brexit transition interval ends in December.

A No 10 spokesperson mentioned Mr Johnson “famous the desirability of a deal” throughout his pre-summit name with Mrs von der Leyen.

Nevertheless, the PM additionally “expressed his disappointment that extra progress had not been remodeled the previous two weeks,” they added.

“The prime minister mentioned that he regarded ahead to listening to the result of the European Council and would replicate earlier than setting out the UK’s subsequent steps.”

Earlier, a No 10 spokesman mentioned fishing rights remained the “starkest” level of distinction forward of Thursday’s two-day EU leaders’ summit.

The federal government’s chief Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost was seen going into Downing Avenue on Thursday morning.

Backbench Conservative Peter Bone informed MPs Lord Frost was briefing the prime minister “on whether or not to proceed the negotiations or whether or not to name it a day and put together for a no-trade deal Brexit”.

Talking after her name with the prime minister, Mrs von der Leyen mentioned: “The EU is engaged on a deal, however not at any worth.”

She added that “situations have to be proper” on fishing, post-Brexit competitors guidelines and the way a deal is enforced for the EU to signal an settlement.

She added: “Nonetheless loads of work forward of us.”

European Council President Charles Michel additionally joined the decision with Mrs von der Leyen and the Mr Johnson on Wednesday night.

In a letter to EU leaders forward of Thursday’s assembly, Mr Michel mentioned reaching a deal earlier than December was “within the pursuits of each side”.

He added that in addition to fishing rights, “key points” for a deal included post-Brexit guidelines on competitors and the way a deal could be enforced.

EU leaders are usually not but all on the identical web page in relation to how a lot they need to hand over or give in to get a deal.

Brussels retains calling on the UK to make concessions however a profitable final result would require compromises on each side.

Will France’s Emmanuel Macron relinquish his hard-line place about protecting present fishing quotas in UK waters? He’ll must, to get a UK deal.

Will Germany’s Angela Merkel give means on some calls for on competitors laws (aka the extent taking part in area) but nonetheless grant the UK zero tariff, zero quota entry to the one market?

EU leaders should agree all this amongst themselves and it will not be simple.

Read more from Katya here.

Over the summer season, each the UK and EU appeared to agree the tip of October was the ultimate date to get a deal completed – permitting sufficient time for it to be ratified earlier than 31 December.

However come 7 September, Boris Johnson determined to shorten the deadline.

He said if a deal wasn’t reached by 15 October, “then I don’t see that there might be a free commerce settlement between us, and we should always each settle for that and transfer on”.

Thursday is that day – however Downing Avenue seems to have moved again from it as a tough deadline.

Formal negotiations ended firstly of October, however Mr Johnson and Mrs von der Leyen pledged to “intensify talks” over the approaching weeks.

Pressed on whether or not the UK would stroll away on 15 October, the federal government’s chief negotiator Lord Frost mentioned it was his job to “advise the prime minister” on whether or not a deal was on the playing cards by then.

Talking on Tuesday, France’s overseas minister Jean-Yves Le Drian steered EU leaders don’t see this week as a tough deadline for a breakthrough.

“The date of 15 October, it is Prime Minister Boris Johnson who introduced that, it isn’t the place of the European Council,” he informed French MPs.

He added that “every little thing ought to be performed out” between October 15 and “mid-November”.

He warned that the prospect of no deal was “sadly very seemingly,” however the EU was “ready for all eventualities”.

By remaining within the bloc’s single market and customs union, the UK has continued to observe EU buying and selling guidelines throughout its post-Brexit transition interval.

This 11-month interval is because of finish in December, and the UK has dominated out searching for an extension.

Formal talks started in March and continued all through the pandemic, initially by way of video hyperlink earlier than in-person discussions resumed over the summer season.

If a deal will not be completed, the UK will commerce with the EU based on the default guidelines set by the World Commerce Group.