UK and EU blame each other for stalled trade talks
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On Friday May 15, the EU and the UK accused each other of unrealistic expectations after the last round of trade negotiations on Brexit and accused each other of the lack of progress in the negotiations .
Both parties argued that if the other does not give in, there will be no agreement on the future trade agreement.
European Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the third round was "disappointing", adding that he "was not optimistic" about reaching a final agreement.
"However, I regret that we have made very little progress towards reaching agreement on the most important outstanding issues between us," said David Frost, chief negotiator for the United Kingdom, in a statement.
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The UK left the bloc on January 31 and the two sides are in talks on future relations, while UK membership conditions remain in effect during the transition period until end of the year.
The UK could ask for an extension before the end of June, but London has repeatedly excluded it.
One of the main hot spots is what is known as the level playing field, which aims to harmonize regulations under the trade agreement without fees or quotas.
The EU argues that there is a need for Britain not to weaken its activities, while Britain refuses to be bound by the EU and the EU EU in matters of workers' rights, environmental protection and other similar regulations.
Frost said the main obstacle to an agreement was the EU's insistence on including a set of "new and unbalanced" proposals on an equal footing.
Barnier argued, however, that the EU "would not trade its values" for the benefit of the British economy.
"Why should we help UK companies sell services in Europe when we have no guarantee that our companies will be treated fairly in the UK?" Said Barnier at the press conference on Friday .
"Today there seems to be a real lack of understanding regarding the objective consequences of the British elections," he added, saying that the British should become more realistic.
Frost, on the other hand, accused the EU of having an "ideological approach" which hampers the prospects of a deal.
Another important point is an agreement on access to fishing waters, which the EU has declared to be a prerequisite for a general agreement.
Barnier said the EU would not accept an agreement without a "balanced, sustainable and long-term agreement" on fisheries.
The EU wants to maintain the same reciprocal access as it does today, while Britain would like to have agreements in different areas, but not full access.
"We cannot agree on manifestly unbalanced agreements that run counter to the interests of the British fishing industry," said Frost.
There are also major obstacles to data protection, the role of the European Court of Justice and the access of UK financial services companies to the bloc.
Barnier acknowledged a letter recently sent by the UK, expressing concern that some EU countries have failed to guarantee the rights of British citizens after Brexit.
The French politician said that the commission will publish guidelines for EU countries on this.
One more turn
A new round of talks will take place in June before political leaders meet and assess whether an agreement is possible.
Barnier said the EU would not make any deals at any cost.
The economic disruption caused by the lack of agreement would hurt economies on both sides of the canal, exacerbate the economic recession resulting from the pandemic, but it would be felt more in Britain.
"We really need a change in the approach to the EU for the next cycle which will start on June 1," said Frost.