BREXIT TALKS FAIL TO AGREE ON FISHERIES, TWO OTHER ISSUES, SAYS SOURCES

 Cyprus Mail 3 November 2020 - by Cyprus News Service

EU-UK trade negotiations have so far failed to make a breakthrough on their three most persistent disagreements – the so-called level playing field, fisheries and settling disputes – sources from both sides told Reuters on Tuesday.

That comes after nearly two weeks of intensified talks to salvage free trade between the 27-nation European Union and Britain from 2021. The negotiations now are in a final stretch aimed at sealing a new trade agreement by Nov. 15.

One of the sources, an EU diplomat following Brexit, said disagreements persisted over the divvying up of fish stocks, including Britain’s demand for annual quota negotiations.

“That’s where we are stuck. They haven’t moved beyond these items on fisheries,” said the person, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A British source also said there had not been much movement on fisheries.

Britain left the EU in January and the estranged allies have since been locked in complex negotiations to try to agree a free trade deal for when a status-quo transition period ends on Dec. 31.

Three EU diplomats also said the bloc’s Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, was due to debrief the 27 national envoys to Brussels on the latest in the talks at a meeting starting at 1330 GMT on Wednesday.

The EU diplomats also expected Barnier to announce good progress on agreeing a joint legal text of a future agreement with the UK on other elements, including social security.