Brexit

UK could face a cliff-edge again if Johnson sticks to end of year deadline

Published

6 years ago

February 4, 2020

EU Reporter Correspondent

Michel Barnier

The EU’s Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, presented the draft negotiating directives on the future relationship negotiations with the United Kingdom. The Commission’s proposal was drawn up based on the Political Declaration agreed on by the UK and EU-27 October last year, under British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Over the weekend, a number of UK ministers appeared to roll back on commitments made in the declaration, the Commission nevertheless presented its view of what an ambitious deal could look like, taking into account the UK’s red lines.

The proposed architecture has three main elements: governance, economic partnership, and a security partnership. While the European Commission hasn’t given a name to the type of agreement, it appears to be very much like an Association Agreement, similar to the one that the EU has with Ukraine.

When asked if he thought the UK could sign a Canada-type deal (CETA) Barnier said that each is different based on the different situation in each country. Barnier added that the EU would be quite constrained by the British Prime Minister’s decision to leave the single market at the end of the year. One of the main issues that would be critical for a trade agreement would be fisheries; over the weekend the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab – and former Brexit Secretary – said the UK would become an independent coastal state with full control over its fisheries. Access would also depend on level-playing field requirements from the EU side based on the UK’s geographical proximity and inter-connectedness with the EU’s economy.

On the level-playing field requirements, Barnier said that there could be no surprises on the British side because it is contained in the Political Declaration that the UK agreed and signed with the EU. Barnier pointed to the exact text that makes this clear. Barnier added that the level-playing field will be the key to opening up the EU’s market to the UK.

Today (3 February), at a speech in Greenwich entitled ‘Unleashing Britain’s Potential’ the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “There is no need for a free trade agreement to involve accepting EU rules on competition policy, subsidies, social protection, the environment, or anything similar any more than the EU should be obliged to accept UK rules.”

On the level-playing field requirements, Barnier contradicted this saying that there could be no surprises on the British side because it is contained in the Political Declaration that the UK agreed and signed with the EU. Barnier pointed to the exact text that makes this clear.