Britain and EU ‘galaxies apart’ on Brexit as major row erupts over fishing
BRITAIN and Brussels were last night “galaxies apart” on Brexit – as talks stalled and another major row blew up over fishing.
Eurocrats complained the UK had tabled an incomplete offer covering only its own key interests to try and split their position.
But British negotiators insisted concentrating on areas where maximum progress can be made early on is the best approach to the talks.
The EU is especially wary that No 10 has put forward the draft text for a free trade agreement but hasn’t submitted any plans for fishing.
Brussels has said that access to waters must be negotiated as part of the trade deal, but UK officials insist the two issues are separate.
An EU diplomatic source told The Sun: “We’re not going to go along with progress only in the areas where there are two texts.
“That would mean the negotiation being fully framed by UK interests. The situation basically means everything is sort of halted.”
‘EVERYTHING IS SORT OF HALTED’
British negotiators have so far tabled draft texts on trade, aviation, transport, and civil nuclear cooperation. That means plans on fishing, energy, law and order, immigration and social security, and participation in EU programmes are missing.
Michel Barnier has produced a draft for one all-encompassing deal covering everything, but the UK wants a suite of separate agreements.
UK officials said the areas they have missed out so far are ones where there were big differences between the sides in the first round of talks.
They added No 10 will table further texts when they think doing so is in Britain’s interests and will contribute to moving the negotiations forwards.
The two sides also both admit they are “far apart” on the tricky level playing field issue – with the UK branding Brussels’ demands unacceptable.
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And one EU source described the drafts tabled so far by the UK as “so low in ambition”. Formal negotiating rounds have been scrapped in favour of “continuous discussions” on the phone due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The PM’s spokesman said: “There was the exchange of texts between the UK and the EU side.”
“I’m not aware of any specific talks having taken place. In terms of the timetable there is no change from our point of view.”
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