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| Brexit: Serious differences over trade deal, say UK and EU | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The UK and EU have said serious differences remain over a post-Brexit trade deal, following the latest negotiations in Brussels. | The UK and EU have said serious differences remain over a post-Brexit trade deal, following the latest negotiations in Brussels. |
| EU negotiator Michel Barnier said the bloc's position needed to be "better understood and respected" by the UK if an agreement is to be found. | EU negotiator Michel Barnier said the bloc's position needed to be "better understood and respected" by the UK if an agreement is to be found. |
| His UK counterpart David Frost said "significant" disagreement remained on "a number of important issues". | His UK counterpart David Frost said "significant" disagreement remained on "a number of important issues". |
| The UK has ruled out extending the December deadline to reach a deal. | The UK has ruled out extending the December deadline to reach a deal. |
| The latest round of talks, the first to be held in person since the Covid-19 crisis struck, came after both sides agreed to "intensify" negotiations last month. | The latest round of talks, the first to be held in person since the Covid-19 crisis struck, came after both sides agreed to "intensify" negotiations last month. |
| Negotiations have continued throughout the pandemic via video link. An additional five weeks of in-person talks are planned for July and early August. | Negotiations have continued throughout the pandemic via video link. An additional five weeks of in-person talks are planned for July and early August. |
| BBC Europe reporter Gavin Lee said the latest round of talks had broken up a day early, with a discussion between the two chief negotiators tomorrow cancelled. | BBC Europe reporter Gavin Lee said the latest round of talks had broken up a day early, with a discussion between the two chief negotiators tomorrow cancelled. |
| Mr Frost said the face-to-face talks had given "extra depth and flexibility" to discussions on a "full range of issues" over trade and a future partnership. | Mr Frost said the face-to-face talks had given "extra depth and flexibility" to discussions on a "full range of issues" over trade and a future partnership. |
| "But they have also underlined the significant differences that still remain between us on a number of important issues," he added. | "But they have also underlined the significant differences that still remain between us on a number of important issues," he added. |
| "We remain committed to working hard to find an early understanding on the principles underlying an agreement." | "We remain committed to working hard to find an early understanding on the principles underlying an agreement." |
| Equally, Mr Barnier said "serious divergences remain" after the four days of talks, although the EU believed an agreement was still possible. | Equally, Mr Barnier said "serious divergences remain" after the four days of talks, although the EU believed an agreement was still possible. |
| 'Equivalent engagement' | 'Equivalent engagement' |
| "The EU engaged constructively, as we had already done during the fourth round of negotiations in June," he added. | "The EU engaged constructively, as we had already done during the fourth round of negotiations in June," he added. |
| "The EU expects, in turn, its positions to be better understood and respected in order to reach an agreement. | "The EU expects, in turn, its positions to be better understood and respected in order to reach an agreement. |
| "We need an equivalent engagement by the United Kingdom." | "We need an equivalent engagement by the United Kingdom." |
| Officials play down early finish | Officials play down early finish |
| Analysis by Gavin Lee, Europe reporter | Analysis by Gavin Lee, Europe reporter |
| Talks started in Brussels on Monday and were due to last until tomorrow afternoon, but finished earlier today. | Talks started in Brussels on Monday and were due to last until tomorrow afternoon, but finished earlier today. |
| It is understood very little progress was made this week - but discussions in London scheduled for next week will continue as planned. | It is understood very little progress was made this week - but discussions in London scheduled for next week will continue as planned. |
| EU officials told the BBC that "one positive is that the UK now appears to understand our position more clearly on the areas of disagreement". | EU officials told the BBC that "one positive is that the UK now appears to understand our position more clearly on the areas of disagreement". |
| Officials on both sides were keen to play down the decision to end talks early. | Officials on both sides were keen to play down the decision to end talks early. |
| One EU official told the BBC that the planned discussion for this afternoon was for "extra questions to be raised" and that "it wasn't a "huge issue" that the two negotiators wouldn't meet tomorrow. | One EU official told the BBC that the planned discussion for this afternoon was for "extra questions to be raised" and that "it wasn't a "huge issue" that the two negotiators wouldn't meet tomorrow. |
| Mr Barnier underlined that the EU expects "parallel progress" in all areas of the negotiations. | Mr Barnier underlined that the EU expects "parallel progress" in all areas of the negotiations. |
| This is a point of difference with the UK - which wants to negotiate separate agreements in areas such as fisheries, alongside a basic free trade deal. | This is a point of difference with the UK - which wants to negotiate separate agreements in areas such as fisheries, alongside a basic free trade deal. |
| Mr Barnier also reiterated the EU would not agree to a deal without "robust" guarantees on the so-called "level playing field" for competition between business. | Mr Barnier also reiterated the EU would not agree to a deal without "robust" guarantees on the so-called "level playing field" for competition between business. |
| He added this would include the area of state support for companies. | He added this would include the area of state support for companies. |
| Just like when it was an EU member, the UK remains tied to the bloc's "state aid" rules during the 11-month transition period due to end in December 2020. | Just like when it was an EU member, the UK remains tied to the bloc's "state aid" rules during the 11-month transition period due to end in December 2020. |
| The UK has not yet unveiled plans for its post-Brexit state aid regime, but PM Boris Johnson has previously said he wants to make it easier for the UK government to provide assistance to struggling firms. | The UK has not yet unveiled plans for its post-Brexit state aid regime, but PM Boris Johnson has previously said he wants to make it easier for the UK government to provide assistance to struggling firms. |
| The two sides also remain deadlocked over the issue of fishing rights - an area where they had previously pledged to find agreement by last month. | The two sides also remain deadlocked over the issue of fishing rights - an area where they had previously pledged to find agreement by last month. |
| The EU wants to uphold its existing access to British waters for vessels from member states, to avoid economic disruption for their fishermen. | The EU wants to uphold its existing access to British waters for vessels from member states, to avoid economic disruption for their fishermen. |
| But the UK wants to hold annual talks with the bloc over access to its waters, as it currently does with nations such as Norway. | But the UK wants to hold annual talks with the bloc over access to its waters, as it currently does with nations such as Norway. |