Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 25 Feb 2020
EUROPEAN MINISTERS HAVE signed off on Brussels’ red lines for the forthcoming post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.
The proposals put into writing warnings by Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, that Britain must sign up to a “level playing field” in any free trade agreement.
The level playing field stipulation could see Brussels attempt to bounce the UK into following some EU rules and standards after the Brexit transition period ends in 2021, a concession British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already ruled out.
In its negotiation mandate, the EU stated that any future relationship with the UK should be “underpinned by robust commitments to ensure a level playing field for open and fair competition, given the EU and the UK’s geographic proximity and economic interdependence”.
On fisheries, the EU General Affairs Council, at its meeting this morning, also agreed to negotiate to “uphold the existing reciprocal access to waters” – a move that is set to flare tensions with Brexiteers and British fishermen.
Johnson used a speech in Greenwich in London earlier this month to announce that, once free of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, “British fishing grounds are first and foremost for British boats”.
Croatian Europe minister Andreja Metelko-Zgombic said the EU is “ready” to commence trade talks now its mandate had been ratified.
He said: “The council has adopted a clear and strong mandate for our negotiator, Michel Barnier.
“This confirms our readiness to offer an ambitious, wide-ranging and balanced partnership to the UK for the benefit of both sides.
“The EU is now ready to start negotiations.”
Cultural objects
The terms also include a controversial clause stating that Britain should “return unlawfully removed cultural objects to their countries of origin”.
The passage is thought to refer to the Elgin Marbles – ancient Greek sculptures brought to Britain more than 200 years ago and now on display in the British Museum.
Greece has been vocal about demanding the return of the marble sculptures, which once adorned the Greek Parthenon temple, to Athens.
Downing Street has insisted that the future of the marbles is “not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations”.
In Westminster, Johnson is chairing a meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee ahead of the publication of the UK’s negotiating position on Thursday.
British ministers are expected to seek a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs, a proposal Johnson and his Europe adviser, David Frost, have set out in speeches in recent weeks.
But the push for a Canada-style deal could set up a clash with the EU after Barnier ruled out such an agreement.
He has previously said the UK is too close in proximity to be permitted to compete with the other 27 member states on such terms.
Frost and his team will head to Brussels for the first round of negotiations on 2 March, after being armed with the UK’s own mandate.
The tight time schedule for the talks remains an issue, with European ministers voicing concerns over the Prime Minister’s unwillingness to extend the deadline beyond December.
Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok, arriving at the council meeting in Brussels, warned of the “immense” time pressure facing both sides as they attempt to agree a future trading relationship.
“The time pressure is immense, the interests are huge – it’s a very complicated treaty – so it will be very hard work. A tough road ahead,” he told reporters.
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the EU was making a “generous and fair” offer to the UK, but warned Johnson not to renege on the commitments made in the Withdrawal Agreement.
His comments follow reports that Johnson has ordered his Brexit team to find ways to “get around” the Northern Ireland protocol which aims to avoid the introduction of a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Johnson is expected to meet Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at Number 10 today as part of his diplomatic efforts with EU leaders before talks commence.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
How about returning land unlawfully taken from other countries too
@Dave: Where ?
This was always gonna happen. EU forced the UK’s hand by replacing Theresa. They never bargained on Boris. He now has a very strong hand. As far as I can see now , the UK will go with WTO rules and undercut and in the end see the break up of EU. Totally brought on by the EU in not accepting the democracy of a member state. They have made numerous countries vote again and again to get right result. We had loads of goes. Now they reap what they have sowed. Hard times ahead as Lieo and Mehole play their games . For them it’s all about themselves. Brexit and this Coronavirus have the potential to bring this nation to its knees and these FFG boys play games and continue to do EUs dirty work.
We don’t need a bad relationship with UK .
Stop the games Lieo , Mehole…
@Willy Mc Entire: If they go to WTO rules they are sctewed on exports and financial passporting.
@Willy Mc Entire: You need to go to Specsavers!
@Willy Mc Entire: Your grip on facts and reality like all the dreamers that voted for brexit is laughable……have of all the UKs exports go to the EU and lets not get into the financial services side of things…..pal you and your delusional mates are in for one hell of a shock. I fully expert Boris and his friends in the media to play you again like a fiddle and make the EU out to be the bed guy when your dream turns into a nightmare, you are playing with a economic block 5 times your size lol…..you choose to leave you will have to deal with reality.
@Willy Mc Entire: Ok has a strong hand?
Seriously, pull the other one.
The UK is a small fish is a big pond, the USA and China are circling looking for parts of it and the UK will be eaten alive
@Willy Mc Entire: wonder what would happen if UK DROPS company tax to 10%
@Peter Hughes: The worlds greatest expert on Brexit pipes up again . You do know it’s a two way street . The UK imports alot of goods from the EU . If the EU don’t come to an agreement with the UK over Brexit both will suffer . I expect nothing but a one sided view Wake up Peter
@Barry:You want people to pull the other one ?????? You keep saying that . Its the sixth biggest economy in the world bigger than France so hardly small fry . What is your point
@Willy Mc Entire: Bullsmellystuff, only three countries in the EU have to put EU treaties to a referendum of the people, a fact that falls a long way short of your unspecified ‘numerous’. Of the three the only country that voted twice was Ireland. What you fail to understand or simply conveniently ignore is the fact that both of the treaties that the Irish voted twice on were AMENDED to take into account Irish concerns before the second vote. The Irish did NOT vote for same thing twice and were never bullied into doing so as you infer. Quite the opposite, the EU was forced to change their treaties because of the Irish. The Irish voters only passed the treaties on the second vote after the EU CHANGED them to suit the Irish. Take your Brexiteer lies and sixth letter of the alphabet off with them. The Irish second vote on both treaties and the EU’s response to the first vote shows real democracy in action.
Meanwhile Leo and MM lead the country on a merry mating dance , putting the party’s ahead of the country… Whats new..
The EU are in no position to demand anything from an independent state. The WA isn’t a treaty it’s a statement of intent based on the UK being treated fairly. As an Anglo-Irish citizen in England, I can tell you the Brits are in no mood to be dictated to by the EU. They will slash their wrists sooner than allow the EU to get their way on all matters. A50 demands best endeavours to find a fair deal for a leaving state. What comes across in the UK is the EU want punishment beatings not trade.
@John Stretton: Comical, wait until Trump gets his hands into ye as well because you are in a very weak position and thats a fact…..reality when it hits and it will will hurt and hurt bad. You have been fed a load of tripe by the media and the Tories and you will reap what you sow.
@Peter Hughes: Funny guy, he won’t get his hands on me. I am an Irish passport holder and citizen. If you don’t want to take on board an opinion from this side of the Irish sea, that’s your silly problem
@John Stretton: Oh John….
@John Stretton: agree entirely with you John ,all these comments about how uk is going to fail etc etc etc ,it’s going to be the other way around eu will fail in their attempt at bullying ,they are panicky ,losing out on all that British money .they never reckoned on Boris Johnson and he has the country behind him ,ireland needs to look at the sham of their political situation .
No deal it is, then…
Financial trade deals are actually one of the most important trade deals to be considered. Talk of those has been limited in the media.
@Craic_a_tower: that’s right. Not a word on EU passporting rights for the banking/financial sector present in the UK. Dodgy. These are the silent killers that manage to avoid scrutiny, but then come back to screw entire countries come recession time. I personally would like to see all rights to access to the EU market removed from UK based entities. Its only fair to EU members and in Boris own words, now they are free to peddle their stuff with the rest of the world, so good luck. Shouldn’t get a Canada style deal because the UK is next door, not across the water. Our actual EU partners should have the advantage, not the UK. Wanted out? Out ye are.
@RobPup: you want to remove all rights to access the EU market? Are you completely bonkers! Firstly, that would be a two-way street so the EU couldn’t access the world’s 6th largest economy. Very damaging to the EU. Secondly, your approach ignores the fact that practically every country in the world trades with the EU. Yet you want to exclude the UK because they dropped out of the club? Utter madness.
@lambda sensor: UK represents 10% of EU trade.
@lambda sensor: say you play golf at your local club for 45 years. Then one day you formally leave the club and stop paying the fees. And then you say, “I still want to play golf here whenever I want like any other member.” Does that make sense to you? Probably does. UK is a fraction of EU business (10% has been floated around as a figure). By all means, protect fishermen and farmers, but not at the cost of pulling 26 sets of pants down for the Brits pal, including ours. Never. The EU is very much the place to be trade wise and there it is where our interests are as a small open economy.
@lambda sensor: Given that 75% of the UK GDP comes from the service industry, a large portion of which are financial and business services, in addition to retail which itself depends on internal confidence in the economy.
Not being able to do business in the EU will hurt the UK, also entities trading through the UK to access the EU will no longer happen, it’s a good thing Jacob Rees Mogg had the foresight to set up his Dublin company then so, inspite of his support for Brexit…
Manufacturing makes up 21% of UK GDP and 45% of all UK exports were to the EU, so that’s just less than half of all manufacturing, round it down to 8%, so in reality 83% of UK GDP depends on access to the EU market, Boris and Co, had better hope the EU fishing industry really has some powerful lobbyists….
@David Van-Standen: Jacob Rees Mogg never set up his company in Dublin.
He set up a fund, which if you start playing the ball and not the man, you will see Ireland has legislation around funds that is different to a lot of places.
Please update the Pro-EU hymn sheet with factual information, and then we can believe the other statements you made.
@SFAnkleTapper: They make a lot of money off the EU in financial transactions. There is no need to use them anymore. It is a particularly lucrative trade as it requires very little labour and equipment. The labour and equipment aren’t unique to the UK and actually provided by many EU companies and citizens. There was an agreement to still use UK clearing houses no matter the events of Brexit for the next 2 years. All this trade should be brought to the EU once this ends. Ireland is prime for this due to or technical expertise in IT and tax breaks on software development. There is now time to prepare.
@RobPup: The city of London makes most of its money outside the EU. Ireland exports 45% of its food production to the UK. Ireland uses almost all UK infrastructure to import and export to the EU and beyond. Ireland is surrounded by UK airspace and territorial waters. Is it just me that is worried what could happen in the Republic without a deal ?
@David Van-Standen: Fishing is a red herring (sorry). More than half of fish caught in UK waters by UK fishermen is consumed outside the UK (like Ireland, despite being an Island, they don’t consume that much fish) and most of the fish they do eat doesn’t come from their waters.
Without a trade deal, they won’t have anywhere to sell their fish and UK fishermen know this.
@Conrad Shields: Red herring it may be, but the UK stance on fishing has more to do with sustainability of stocks than access. There are huge factory ships vacuuming British waters. The UK does eat a lot of fish, cod, haddock, sole etc; it’s the other fish that are massive exports, herring, mackerel and so on. Cod and haddock have to be imported because of overfishing and cost double what it should from home waters. UK fisherman could easily be kept fully employed fishing for home consumption.
@RobPup: No wonder they left, 10% of EU business but giving 14% to the EU budget
@John Stretton: if that’s how you do math, God help ya.
@RobPup: Give him a break, he is probably only eight years old, if he thinks that that calculation is valid!
If this was updated 10 hrs ago, why does it have Sajid Javid delivering the UK budget?
have your say