The leaders of the UK and the EU executive were unable to bridge the “wide gaps” that have prevented a deal, with just weeks to go before the UK leaves the EU single market and customs union on 31 December.
Despite nine months of talks, three major sticking points remain: European fishing rights in British waters, fairness in competitions rules and the enforcement of a trade agreement.
We had a lively & interesting discussion on the state of play on outstanding issues.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 9, 2020
We understand each other’s positions. They remain far apart.
The teams should immediately reconvene to try to resolve these issues. We will come to a decision by the end of the weekend. pic.twitter.com/jG0Mfg35YX
“We agreed that the (negotiating) teams should immediately reconvene to try to resolve these essential issues,” von der Leyen said after the dinner, adding that both sides had gained a clear understanding of each other’s positions - which remained “far apart”.
“We will come to a decision by the end of the weekend.”
A senior source in the British prime minister’s office said in a statement that Johnson did not want to leave “any route to a possible deal untested”.
Around $1 trillion in annual trade – currently free from tariffs and quotas – is at stake if there is no agreement by Sunday.
(With Reuters)
