The briefing on future relations with the United Kingdom was, as agreed, very short on Friday 2 October, the second day of the Summit of Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States.
It essentially enabled the President of the European Council and the President of the Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen respectively, to renew their “confidence” in the EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, and also permitted the Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, to give his point of view, said Charles Michel at the final press conference.
“We are united, we are very calm, we have already had the opportunity to express what we think” and “we will have the opportunity to talk about it in October”, at the summit officially devoted to the negotiations with London, but “we did not embark on the debate today”, added the President of the European Council.
Videoconference
For her part, Ms von der Leyen will hold a video conference on Saturday, 3 October, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson “to take stock of the negotiations”, she said. She said that while progress has been made “on very many issues”, difficulties remain on the matter of a level playing field and fisheries, but declined to say whether the EU and the UK were ready to enter into a negotiating process now.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the chances of a deal, given the “geopolitical necessity” of an agreement.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not want to say whether the video conference on 3 October was a good sign. “Much will be determined by what Britain wants and what it doesn't want. That is really for Britain to decide. But as long as the negotiations are continuing, I am optimistic.”.
The main points of divergence are still to be overcome
For his part, Michel Barnier has, as agreed, transmitted a written declaration on the 9th round of negotiations.
He confirmed “points of convergence, most of which had already been recorded in previous rounds, in particular on certain aspects of trade in goods, services and investment, civil nuclear cooperation and participation in Union programmes” as well as “new positive developments on certain subjects such as air safety, coordination of social security and respect for fundamental rights and individual freedoms”.
But Michel Barnier mentions “continuing serious divergences”, thus seeming to contradict the positive atmosphere described in recent days.
“We reiterate once again that any agreement on an economic partnership with the United Kingdom requires strong, long-term guarantees of open and fair competition”, the negotiator added.
On the governance framework, there is a particular need for strong enforcement and dispute resolution mechanisms and effective remedies “following the introduction by the UK government of the 'Internal Market Bill', which violates its obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland”. And on fisheries, everything still remains to be done, Michel Barnier appears to be saying.
For his part, the British negotiator, David Frost, also considers that there are persistent differences of opinion. “On the matter of the level playing field, including subsidy policy, we are continuing to seek an agreement that would guarantee our ability to establish our own laws in the UK.” Limited progress has been made in this area “and the EU needs to go further”. Moreover, “on fisheries, the gap between us is unfortunately very wide”, he notes.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says negotiations still very delicate
The Irish Prime Minister confirmed this at the end of the Summit, saying at a press briefing that negotiations remain “difficult. The level playing field and fair market access remains a matter of considerable concern”.
It is still “an issue on which progress will have to be made”. And “even if the mood is one of commitment, no one underestimates the task ahead of us”, he said. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Aminata Niang)