EP Political leaders tell Britain to make up its mind as Brexit deal 'within reach'

The European Union told Britain on Wednesday to make up its mind on Brexit, putting the onus back on London to unlock trade talks as the bloc's chief negotiator said an agreement was still within reach. https://www.eudebates.tv/debates/spec... #eudebates #debates #Barnier #BREXIT #negotiations A frustrated European Union and piqued Britain both exhorted each other this week to compromise to avoid a disruptive finale to the five-year Brexit drama that would add to economic pain from the coronavirus crisis. "Time is very short and we stand ready to negotiate 24/7, on all subjects, on legal texts. The UK has a bit of a decision to make and it's their free and sovereign choice," European Council President Charles Michel told the European Parliament. He said Britain's answer would determine its level of access to the EU's internal market, adding: "This is just common sense." With some 900 billion euros of annual trade at stake in the talks, the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the parliament an agreement was still "within reach". "Time is of the essence ... Along with our British counterparts, we must find solutions to the most difficult areas," Barnier said, in comments that pushed sterling higher. Michel said the 27 EU members were equally ready for an abrupt split in trading ties at the end of the year without a new agreement to avoid tariffs or quotas. He listed three main sticking points in the trade negotiations: guaranteeing fishing rights and economic fair play, and agreeing ways to settle future trade disputes. "We don't need words, we need guarantees," he said of the so-called level playing field guarantees of fair competition. "Do our British friends want to regulate state aid and uphold high medical standards? If so, why not commit to them." "DOORS OPEN" Michel called for agreement on a "binding, independent arbitration" to redress any market distortions swiftly. Michel said London's draft new Internal Market Bill - which, if adopted, would undermine Britain's earlier divorce deal with the EU - only solidified the bloc's belief that it needed tight policing of any new deal. A deputy head of the bloc's executive European Commission, Maros Sefcovic, also said London must respect its divorce settlement with the EU regardless of the outcome of trade talks. Michel said losing access to British waters would inflict "extraordinary damage" on the EU's fishing industry and that the bloc was therefore seeking to prolong the status-quo just as London wanted to keep the EU's market of 450 million consumers open for UK companies. "But the UK wants access to the single market while at the same time being able to diverge from our standards and regulations when it suits them. You can't have your cake and eat it too," Michel said. Britain's current EU trading terms expire at the end of this year following Brexit last March and commerce free of tariffs and quotas can no longer be guaranteed from 2021 without a new partnership agreement. "Our doors remain open and will remain open until the last day possible. We are ready to work day and night," Barnier said. https://www.eudebates.tv/ #eudebates Our Union is the key to overcome the challenges of Brexit and Covid Dacian Cioloş, Leader of the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament has warned that the EU wants and needs a strong partnership with our UK neighbours, but for that to happen, Boris Johnson needs to stop his political games. “The European Union’s future relation with the United Kingdom, has reached a critical point. The EU was always willing to negotiate, but from the beginning of the campaign for the referendum, up until now, he has played games. If the United Kingdom wants a deal, which I might add: is in the best interests of UK citizens also, its Government needs to sit at the negotiating table until one is reached, and stop playing delaying tactics. Our position is straightforward and clear, we will not ratify any trade deal, as long as the Withdrawal Agreement is not fully respected, especially the Protocol on Northern Ireland. Furthermore, Renew Europe will only give its consent to an agreement that protects the interests of European citizens, and is fair and beneficial to our economy.” Cioloş was speaking in the Plenary session of the European Parliament during a debate on the evaluation of the last European Council meeting on 15 October. He also raised the mistakes made by the EU last Spring during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. ”Europe is on the brink of a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The coordination of free movement, requested by my political group and this Parliament, is a step forward, but we must further strengthen operational coordination at EU level. We have to urgently prepare ourselves, in order to mitigate the serious social and economic hardship this second wave will cause for our citizens.