France demands 10-years access to British waters, collapsing British-EU trade talks

[-:Undertaker:-]

France demands 10-years access to British waters, collapsing British-EU trade talks

Britain's Lord Frost and the EU's Michel Barnier break-off talks with 27 days left until Britain leaves the Single Market with No Deal

Pictured: Britain's internationally-recognised Exclusive Economic Zone

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55191436

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen will seek to break the stalemate over a post-Brexit trade deal on Saturday.

Negotiators for the two sides called in the two leaders after saying "significant divergences" remained following a week of intensive talks.

Time is running out to get a deal through before the UK leaves EU trading rules on 31 December.

Most of the deal has been completed but key sticking points remain.

These include fishing rights, the rules governing state subsidies for business and how the agreement is policed.

One source close to the negotiations on the UK side suggested there had been a more optimistic outlook earlier in the week but pointed to demands for EU fishing boats to have ten year access to UK waters as one issue that derailed progress - as had been reported in the Telegraph.

It is appearing quite likely that EU would rather have no deal than allow the UK to have the same autonomy that, for example, Canada has with the US

— Bruno Waterfield (@BrunoBrussels) December 4, 2020

This was never a conventional trade deal. It has always been about politics and the EU’s attempt to be a power bloc, red in tooth and realpolitik claw
EU is finding it difficult to digest idea of a large, advanced neighbour that is not a supplicant

— Bruno Waterfield (@BrunoBrussels) December 4, 2020

Well done PM and David Frost. No need to give away our fish or our law making powers. We voted to be an independent country. The EU has to decide if it wants a Free Trade Agreement or not.

— John Redwood (@johnredwood) December 4, 2020

10 years access to our waters? Sure - just give us 10 years access to your German coal mines, Italian gold mines and Spanish vineyards.

As Bruno Waterfield said, they're simply not used to a large player on their doorstep - they think they're dealing with tiny tin pot countries.

Time to walk away. We'd of happily signed a Canadian style FTA, but oh well!

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Phone call this evening between PM and EU Commission President yielded no breakthroughs.

BREAKING Eurosceptic Conservatives are 100 per cent behind the PM.
The European Research Group has issued statement to tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph pledging "the fullest confidence in David Frost and the British negotiating team", adding: "We have nothing to fear from freedom.”

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) December 5, 2020

Senior UK source: “This is the final throw of the dice. There is a fair deal to be done that works for both sides but this will only happen if the EU is willing to respect the fundamental principles of sovereignty and control."

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) December 5, 2020

The PM will now press ahead by publishing two draft laws on Monday and Tuesday which will breach international law by rewriting parts of the Withdrawal Agreement in a move which could further strain UK/EU relations.

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) December 5, 2020

Latest on Brexit talks acc to EU source.

Both sides are “totally stuck” on fish.

— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) December 5, 2020

[-:Undertaker:-]

Talks at a late dinner between the British PM and European Commission President have not gone well. 21 days left......

Lord Frost and Michel Barnier have been given until Sunday (the 13th December).

Discussions have not gone well - decision by Sunday

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) December 9, 2020

Newspaper headlines: 'Deadlock at dinner' as Brexit trade talks 'go badly' https://t.co/qp3ccm5KkS

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 10, 2020

"This is no longer about a trade deal", says Sir Iain Duncan Smith, "it's about sovereignty" and how far the EU can insist their rules apply to the UK as we go forward. "We didn't vote to leave" to become "semi-detached to the EU" and worse off #R4Today https://t.co/B0GT5CAANI

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) December 9, 2020

I personally hope we get a No Deal, and over the next few months some bilateral agreements on areas we agree on can be signed. A comprehensive FTA isn't needed.