Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA) deplored, on Monday 25 May, the UK's lack of cooperation and ambition in the ongoing negotiations on the future relationship with the EU.
During an exchange of views on the draft final report led by Kati Piri (S&D, The Netherlands) and Christophe Hansen (EPP, Luxembourg), which the two MEPs aim to have adopted on 15 June and then on 17 June in plenary, the MEPs recalled two essential principles “behind which we will remain united”, as the president of AFET, David McAllister (EPP, Germany) said: “to negotiate an agreement that respects the political declaration” of October 2019 and “to not to reach an agreement at any price”.
Seventeen committee opinions will fuel the report, which will in turn feed into the discussions that the two partners will hold at a summit in June to take stock of the negotiations. The European Parliament has asked to participate in this high-level summit, but, at this stage, the Commission has not yet responded to this request.
In the meantime, “things have not moved forward”, regretted the EPP co-rapporteur, citing “last week's provocations” with a letter from negotiator David Frost suggesting that the EU is treating the UK much worse than it does other non-Member States.
Rather, he said, it is “the concessions requested by the United Kingdom, which go far beyond what is being granted to other countries”, that are derailing the process, with the British government asking for much greater access “for its financial services”.
While several voices in the UK are calling for an extension of the transition period, “ you can't force London”, but, according to the EPP rapporteur, London may want to use the risk of a 'no deal' with the EU to mask its handling of the health crisis.
Kati Piri, for her part, continued to deplore the United Kingdom's refusal to commit to a security and foreign affairs partnership, as wanted by the Commission.
Many AFET and INTA MEPs, such as S&D German Bernd Lange, considered the results of the last three rounds of negotiations to be “really disappointing” and stressed that the next session on 1 June will be decisive.
The United Kingdom wants “all the benefits of free trade agreements without quotas or tariffs”, but “firmly rejects the necessary conditions”, such as fair competition and common standards. According to Lange, the British texts published last week clearly show that London only wants to negotiate according to “its interests”.
For Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, France), the United Kingdom has also “deeply distanced itself from the commitments it made in the political declaration”, adding that a precondition for an agreement on the future relationship will be “the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, a fisheries agreement and the conditions for fair competition”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)