Negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom on their future post-Brexit relationship resumed on Monday 9 November in London, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier confirmed on Twitter.
He said he was “happy” to be back in London for the talks in order to “redoubling our efforts to reach an agreement”.
He focused in particular on the three main sticking points in the negotiations: respect for EU autonomy and British sovereignty, with effective governance and enforcement mechanisms; “robust” guarantees of “free and fair” competition and trade based on high shared standards “evolving coherently over time”; and “ stable and reciprocal access to markets and fishing opportunities” in the interest of both parties, the negotiator said.
The talks are expected to last all week.
On 7 November, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, reviewed the state of the negotiations by telephone and both acknowledged “great differences”.
On Sunday, the day after Joe Biden’s victory in the US, the Briton said his country is very much in favour of reaching an agreement with the EU and is also open to compromises on fisheries.
Joe Biden was quick to express his concerns about the UK’s Internal Market Bill contravening the Northern Ireland Protocol and called on London to respect the signed commitments.
The controversial text was due to return to the British House of Lords on Monday 9 November and, according to British media reports, the government was on the verge of a setback. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)