Ten days before the end of the Brexit transition period, no one knows what circumstances Great Britain and the European Union will trade in the future.
“Take care and thank you for the fish” is the title of a section in the novel series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. The sentence is a popular farewell greeting among Brexit hardliners. In his opinion, this is the perfect way to end negotiations on a trade and security agreement. They are asking for a hard break without any deal. But the European Union and UK teams continued talks in Brussels on Monday. British envoys under David Frost have been in the European Union capital for two weeks.
The sticking point is now financially insignificant but emotionally charged with fishing. London demands that the European Union is in dispute over concessions in the so-called water level after guaranteeing the so-called “level playing field” i.e. fair competition. British insiders whispered that resistance is to be found mainly in Paris. However, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs a breakthrough on Fish to sell a deal to rebel Brexit fans in his party.
As revealed by the negotiation circles, Brussels has come a little closer. Reportedly it is now about the length of a transitional period for Matsya. The EU wants at least seven years, the British only three. At the end of this period, the EU will agree to pay at least 25 percent of its fishing quota in the 12-mile area.
On Monday, David McAllister (CDU), head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Union’s parliament, stressed that “every step will be taken to reduce disruption for our citizens and companies”. Verification of an agreement before the end of the year has meanwhile become impossible. They want to examine a document of up to 1000 pages before voting on it. However, the contract must first be checked and translated by lawyers.
In the wake of growing chaos, voices were raised on Monday to call Johnson to request an extension of the transition period. These included London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Johnson cabinet turned it down despite concerns over supply shortages. Representatives from many companies and various industries have called a tough Brexit a disaster for weeks. It also includes Paul Jackson. The 57-year-old heads the Chilton Distribution Transport Company in the East of England. Apart from medicines, their trucks mainly bring fresh fruits and vegetables to the island. Lemons and onions, tomatoes and tulips, cabbage and bananas – 15 of its 52 trucks are usually on the continent. Jackson says, “I’m waiting for someone to finally tell me what to do.” His voice echoes despair, anger and helplessness. The official website of Boris Johnson’s government says, “Prepare yourself!” Jackson shook his head. “how come?” Without information and a workaround IT system for processing at the border, but with the prospect of a lot of paperwork, great administrative effort and waiting hours in traffic jams outside Dover and Callas, Britton is pessimistic about the future. “Delays mean additional costs,” he says, who was stranded in traffic for seven hours on his way to Italy two weeks ago as an emergency was tested and trucks were to be delivered 20 to 30 seconds before crossing the English Channel. was stopped. In this practice an emergency means: at least one fundamental agreement. This is now the best possible scenario.
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