Brexit negotiations: "Frustrated and sad about the prospect of a no-deal"

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Scotland's Prime Minister Sturgeon: Actually, it is a time when "100 percent of our time and energy" is needed to contain the pandemic

Photo: POOL New / REUTERS

The EU and the UK only have a few weeks left to agree on an agreement on future relations.

However, negotiations about this have stalled for months.

After another EU summit on the subject, it is now uncertain whether the talks will continue.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has again threatened a hard Brexit, but the EU does not want to abandon the agreement yet.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Brussels negotiators would travel to London next week "as planned" to "intensify these negotiations".

As the AFP news agency learned from EU circles, London is said to have accepted the continuation of negotiations.

The British government did not confirm this, however.

"The trade talks are over," said a Johnson spokesman instead.

"The EU has effectively ended it."

Should Brussels not move fundamentally, the team headed by chief negotiator Michel Barnier will not have to bother to come to London.

Johnson had recently accused the EU of not negotiating seriously.

If it does not change its position, Great Britain will prepare itself to shape its trade relations with the EU from January onwards on the basis of regulations of the World Trade Organization.

In his address, he prepared his country for a hard break with the EU without a treaty.

London's Mayor calls for an extension of the transition period

This development is viewed with concern in Scotland.

Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed concern.

"I am frustrated and saddened by the prospect of a no-deal Brexit after the transition period in late December," said Sturgeon.

Actually, it is a time when "100 percent of our time and energy" is needed to contain the corona pandemic.

In view of the limited time remaining, Sturgeon is assuming only a minimal compromise, even in the best case.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged Johnson to extend the Brexit transition period due to the ongoing corona pandemic.

"The last thing London needs is the uncertainty and chaos of a no-deal Brexit," wrote Khan on Twitter.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has not yet given up hope of an agreement.

Although the British Prime Minister is already assuming failure, Merkel spoke out in favor of continuing the Brexit negotiations after the EU summit.

"We saw light in the last days of the negotiations, but of course still shadows. And if it is up to the European Union and me personally, then we should just continue these talks now," she said.

"We saw light in the last days of the negotiations, but of course still shadows."

Chancellor Angela Merkel

The Chancellor also emphasized that one had to prepare for failure: "I still think it is better for both sides to get an agreement, but not at any price."

Great Britain left the EU on February 1st.

However, it will remain in the EU internal market and the customs union until the end of the year.

Both sides actually wanted to use this transition phase to negotiate a trade agreement.

The talks have hardly made any progress for months.

The EU summit asked the UK on Thursday to move forward in the negotiations.

Specifically, it concerns the points of fishing, level playing field and dispute settlement in the event of breaches of contract.

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asc / dpa / AFP