The President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Christine Lagarde estimated Thursday, October 15 that an agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union sealing their post-Brexit relations will eventually be concluded due to the considerable stakes for both parties .
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“
When we take into account to what extent the United Kingdom on the one hand and the European Union on the other would be affected by a situation of no-deal, it could not be clearer that there has to be an agreement,
”she said during a conversation with IMF boss Kristalina Georgieva on CNBC, on the sidelines of the fall meetings.
"
There is a negotiation process underway and the agreement may be concluded three minutes before midnight,
" she said.
She said she was optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations while acknowledging that the size of the "
egos
" and the differences of opinion were not going to facilitate the negotiations.
The statements come as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson threatens to halt negotiations.
The United Kingdom says it is "
disappointed with the conclusions of the European summit
" on post-Brexit trade negotiations and will vote on the follow-up to be given to the discussions on Friday, British negotiator David Frost said on Thursday.
The latter said on Twitter that he was "
surprised that the EU is no longer committed to working intensively
" on an agreement and that the 27 still require efforts in London.
To read also: Macron: "the fishermen could not be the sacrificed of Brexit"
The leaders of the EU, meeting in summit in Brussels, for their part demanded the “
necessary gestures
” to allow an agreement on their post-Brexit relationship.
Yet the EU says it is ready to make "
a reasonable effort
" on the issue of fisheries, one of the main sticking points in negotiations on its post-Brexit relationship with the United Kingdom, the negotiator said on Thursday. European Michel Barnier.
"
We are well aware that we are going to have to make an effort: this effort must be reasonable, that it preserves the EU's fishing activities, and that requires access to water which is reciprocal and stable
", a- he on the first day of a European summit in Brussels.
He offered to travel to London "
next week
" to resume talks.