EU and UK government negotiators are continuing talks in Brussels this week on the future relationship and “are working intensively for an agreement, but we are not there yet”, Commission spokesperson Daniel Ferrie said on Tuesday 3 November.
EU negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to visit Member States’ ambassadors to the EU and MEPs this week to take stock of a week of negotiations considered as crucial.
The spokesman did not, however, want to say whether this progress item would be delivered to the Committee of Permanent Representatives on 4 November as other sources suggest.
On the content of the negotiations, he said that all subjects were being addressed and not only the most sensitive issues such as fair competition standards. But he has already conceded that “on fisheries, we have not yet found a solution”.
“For the time being, we are looking for a stable, long-term, sustainable agreement while ensuring sustainable activity for fishermen”, he continued.
Reasoned opinion in preparation on withdrawal agreement
The spokesman also said that the Commission will soon start the second stage of the infringement proceeding opened in October on the UK’s agreement to withdraw from the EU with a “reasoned opinion”.
On 1 October, the Commission launched an infringement proceeding concerning the UK Internal Market Bill, which it believes contradicts certain provisions of the Northern Ireland Protocol (see EUROPE 12572/21). Pending the end of the transition period and the use of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in the withdrawal agreement, the Commission has used the principle of sincere cooperation contained in the Treaty, the United Kingdom still being bound by the European provisions during the transition.
The spokesman explained on Tuesday that London had not replied to the first letter of formal notice and that the Commission is still waiting for this dispute to be resolved. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)