The EU and Great Britain got into a diplomatic spat, on Friday, over Brexit.
The two sides held talks to break the ever increasing possibility of a no-deal Brexit departure, as the U.K enters its final phase to fulfill all of its remaining obligations to the union, before leaving. But a debate over the EU’s proposed "level playing field" stalled negotiations. One diplomat described the discussions as, “both sides agreed to disagree.”
On paper, Britain left the EU on January 31st, 2020. But its terms of membership will remain in place until the end of the year.
London has until then to come up with a trade agreement to avoid the economic instability economists predict a no-deal Brexit will bring on the country. But contentious Issues like the so-called “level playing field” have stalled progress of a possible agreement being reached by the EU’s preferred October deadline.
The EU’s top negotiator says Britain continues to refuse to simply hold talks on the matter. Britain, in return, says doing so would bind the country to EU trade regulations and laws, which essentially, will undermine the whole idea behind Brexit.
“As soon as the EU recognizes that we will not conclude an agreement on that basis, we will be able to make progress,” Britain’s top Brexit negotiator David Frost said.
Other issues like fair competition, fisheries, and oversight, still remain on the table. The current round of talks is scheduled to end on June 1st.
EU negotiators have already started making plans for a possible extension in talks if neither side fails to reach an agreement before June.
But unconfirmed reports suggest Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson is prepared to reject the offer and walk away with no deal.
By: Niza Nondo
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