The Presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Parliament, David Sassoli, agreed on Monday 15 June, following a videoconference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to give “a necessary new impetus” to the negotiations on the future relationship, even though the first four rounds of talks have not managed to iron out the differences (see EUROPE 12500/6).
At this high-level meeting, formally provided for in the agreement on an orderly Brexit to take stock of the negotiations begun in early February and slowed down by the pandemic, the three European leaders also officially “took note” of the British decision not to request an extension of the post-Brexit transition period, which will therefore end at the end of 2020. On Friday, Minister Michael Gove had already confirmed this rejection of the extension (see EUROPE 12505/7).
On substance, the four leaders “welcomed the constructive discussions on future relations that took place under the leadership of negotiators David Frost and Michel Barnier”, says a joint statement. These discussions allowed “both sides to clarify and better understand their positions”. And, during the four rounds of negotiations, “texts were exchanged despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
However, the deadline for finalising the negotiations has now been reduced to four months, with the ratification phase due to begin at the end of October so that a possible agreement can come into force at the beginning of January 2021.
In these circumstances, the leaders therefore “supported the plans approved by negotiators to intensify the talks in July and create the best conditions for concluding and ratifying an agreement before the end of 2020”. And “this should include, if possible, quickly finding common ground on the principles underlying any agreement”, they added.
This meeting was “a non-event”, one diplomat observed. It was indeed already planned and follows rounds of discussions which have shown deep divergences between the two partners.
The Commission and the UK Government still disagree on the overall form of the agreement, with the Commission and the European Parliament criticising the sectoral approach wanted by London. On fisheries, Europeans want to be able to essentially preserve the status quo. On respecting the level playing field, there is no common ground either, although Member States and Parliament insist that London simply needs to ensure that standards are matched over time and “not aligned”, the source said.
As Charles Michel summed it up via Twitter, it is in the “mutual interest” of both parties to have a good, “broad and ambitious” agreement. But, he qualified, “the EU is ready to put a tiger in the tank, but not to buy a pig in a poke”. To put it plainly: the EU is prepared to work hard to reach an agreement, but will not sign an agreement at all costs.
Brexit on the agenda of the EU-27
Michel Barnier, the EU negotiator, will take stock of these negotiations on Tuesday 16 June with the European Affairs Ministers meeting in the General Affairs Council.
The EU-27 are also expected to discuss the issue at the EU summit by videoconference on Friday 19 June. Charles Michel will inform them of Monday’s meeting. However, the agenda item is expected to remain short, with most of the summit being devoted to the first round of discussions on the EU budget 2021-2027 complemented by the European Recovery Plan. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)