"The transition period ends on 31 December" and the UK "will not ask for it to be extended" even if the EU requests it, UK negotiator David Frost said on Thursday 16 April.
"Extending the transition would simply prolong the negotiations, create even more uncertainty, leave us liable to pay more to the EU in future, and keep us bound by evolving EU laws at a time when we need to control our own affairs. In short, it is not in the UK's interest to extend", he added.
On Wednesday, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, argued for an extension. The United Kingdom "should ask for an extension to its post-Brexit transition period to ease uncertainty at a time when the world economy is being hammered by the coronavirus pandemic", she said. "Let’s not make it any tougher" she added. "My advice would be to seek ways in which this element of uncertainty is reduced in the interests of everybody, of the UK, of the EU, the whole world". The former European Commissioner's speech comes as negotiations on the future relationship will restart on 20 April via videoconference (see EUROPE 12467/21). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)