EU warns of big gap on British talks

The EU’s chief trade negotiator with former member Britain warned Thursday of “serious divergences” between the two sides following the conclusion of the first round of talks.

Britain, in the meantime, predicted a hardcore road in advance for the talks, which try to secure a new arrangement for trade and a bunch of the areas by the finish of the year.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels after several days and nights of talks, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said both sides had key disagreements in four areas: a “level playing discipline” for competition, reliability cooperation, governance into the future relationship and fishing.

“Our variations come as no real surprise,” Barnier said. “Especially after only one round of negotiations. But some are very, very hard.”

Britain remaining the EU in Jan. 31, the first country ever to take action. This week’s talks marked the start of a process aimed at securing new commercial, angling and other ties with the world’s most important trading bloc.

The teams are anticipated to meet every 2-3 weeks, alternating between Brussels and London. Six or so rounds of negotiations are expected to occur by the finish of June.

Under the divorce agreement signed last year, Britain must decide by June 30 whether it really wants to extend a transition period that is aimed at smoothing its departure from the bloc, which it was an associate of for 47 years. Barnier said the adjustments that will come at the end of the changeover period are getting “underestimated,” and warned that it won’t be “organization as usual” as new customs arrangements, for instance, come into force.

Through the transition, Britain continues to be within the EU’s financial orbit, including its single market to get trade in products and services, even though it has remaining its political institutions.

British Primary Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that he won’t consent to extend the transition period beyond the finish of the year. That signifies that if both sides can’t strike a deal by Dec. 31, Britain and the EU will trade on terms outlined by the Environment Trade Corporation, which would observe tariffs and different restrictions imposed.

Needlessly to say, discussions on future angling rights have proved difficult. Johnson says Brexit signifies that Britain uses control of its waters. The EU, in the mean time, wants to be sure its fishing fleets still get access to British waters, in quite similar way because they do now.

Barnier reported Britain has asked to negotiate independent reciprocal access on a good yearly basis, “which just can't be done.”

On governance, Barnier said Uk negotiators have asked for a number of sectoral agreements as the EU is pushing for just one comprehensive deal that includes all issues up for discussion.