The European and British negotiators responsible for defining the post-Brexit trade relationship are due to speak to each other on Tuesday, October 20 in order to unblock discussions, after an offer from the EU on Monday rejected by London, their spokespersons announced.
European negotiator Michel Barnier was to meet with his British counterpart David Frost in the afternoon from 3 p.m., according to one of these sources.
Read also: Brexit: what is Boris Johnson really playing?
The two officials have already spoken Monday: Michel Barnier then said that the EU remained "
available to intensify
" discussions, for the first time "
on the basis of legal texts
".
But Downing Street had confined itself to taking "
note
" of this proposal, calling for a "
fundamental change in the EU's approach
".
Mr Frost needs to see "
that this is a real negotiation
" and not "
that one party makes all the moves,
" British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said Tuesday.
"
Our door is ajar to resume negotiations, but this can only be done if the EU fundamentally changes its approach,
" he hammered, "
which means in practice that the EU accepts that the movement must come from the EU as well as from the UK
”.
“
Everything is in London's hands.
Barnier made a gesture with his message last night,
”said a European source on Tuesday.
“
The British seem to want more, but without specifying what or why.
"Boris Johnson"
yesterday had a golden opportunity to (resume discussions) while claiming victory and he did not seize it
", regretted for his part a diplomatic source.
Towards a “no-deal”?
Already difficult, the post-Brexit discussions escalated last Thursday when the 27, meeting at the top, demanded concessions from London to reach a free trade agreement in time to apply it next year, when the rules European Union will cease to apply to the United Kingdom.
Boris Johnson then declared the talks "
finished
" and asked the British to prepare for a "
no deal
", a potentially devastating prospect for economies already shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an exchange on Tuesday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis Mr Johnson "
reaffirmed that the EU has effectively ended these negotiations by declaring that it does not want to change its position
", according to a British spokesperson.
Read also: Brexit: Boris Johnson once again threatens to slam the door
The two sides continue to pass the buck to each other despite the lack of time to reach a compromise, with the Europeans believing a deal needed before the end of October to be transposed and adopted by the end of the year.
In the absence of a free trade agreement, the British government ensures that it would be satisfied with a “
no deal
” on January 1, involving the reestablishment of quotas and customs duties between the 27 and London.
Discussions still stumble on three subjects: access for Europeans to fish in British waters, guarantees demanded in London in terms of competition, and how to settle disputes in the future agreement.
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