SMEs from the EU and the UK that belong to SMEunited have expressed their concern abut the “lack of progress” made by the two parties in the agreement on their future relationship.
In a letter addressed to Michel Barnier and David Frost, the negotiators for the two parties, SMEunited reaffirms the need for “a robust trade agreement which supports the integrity of the Single Market whilst maintaining close business relations between the EU and the UK”.
The letter is accompanied by the ‘Declaration on the future relationship between the EU and the UK’, which underlines the group’s principles: a level playing field in compliance with EU social and environmental standards, reciprocity in technical standards, full road connectivity between the UK and the EU, and maximum simplification and even elimination of administrative burdens.
The new agreement should also include a standalone SME chapter, ensuring transparent and easily accessible information, especially on tariffs and rules of origin.
The two parties finished last week’s meeting without having settled their differences on fisheries and the level playing field (see EUROPE 12534/4). Informal discussions continue this week in London.
The statement can be found at: https://bit.ly/39zDgQG (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)