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Brexit: Gove in Brussels as EU trade talks resume Brexit: Gove in Brussels as EU trade talks resume
(about 3 hours later)
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is in Brussels at the start of a week of talks about the UK's future relationship with the European Union. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove is in Brussels at the start of a week of talks about the UK's future relationship with the European Union.
Mr Gove is meeting European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic to discuss implementation of the Brexit divorce deal. Mr Gove met European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic to discuss implementation of the Brexit divorce deal.
And on Tuesday formal negotiations will resume as the two sides attempt to agree a post-Brexit trade deal. Mr Sefcovic said the UK's negotiating position is still "far apart from what the EU can accept".
Last week the UK said a lot of work remains before a deal can be reached. Formal trade talks will resume on Tuesday.
An EU spokesman said their chief negotiator Michel Barnier was neither optimistic nor pessimistic but determined to reach a deal. A UK government spokesperson said while this week represented the final formal round of negotiations, he expected discussions to continue up to a meeting of the EU Council, scheduled for 15 October.
He described the atmosphere as positive but added that "much was to be done".
Speaking after his meeting with Mr Gove, Mr Sefcovic echoed this view.
He said that "much work remains to be done", highlighting in particular the questions over the Northern Ireland protocol in what he said was a "window of opportunity" that was "rapidly closing".
The Brexit transition period, in which the UK has kept to EU trading rules, ends on 31 December. The UK and EU are yet to agree a deal that will govern their future trade.The Brexit transition period, in which the UK has kept to EU trading rules, ends on 31 December. The UK and EU are yet to agree a deal that will govern their future trade.
The last set of talks between the two sides ended acrimoniously when the UK government introduced the Internal Market Bill, which would allow the UK to override parts of the original Brexit divorce deal - known as the withdrawal agreement. The last set of talks between the two sides ended acrimoniously when the UK government introduced the Internal Market Bill, which would allow the UK to override parts of the original Brexit divorce deal - known as the withdrawal agreement - concerning Northern Ireland.
Mr Sefcovic said that if the bill were to be adopted, it would constitute an "extremely serious violation" of the withdrawal agreement and of international law. Mr Sefcovic repeated the EU's request for the UK to remove the "contentious parts" of the bill by the end of September.
He urged the government to withdraw the bill "by the end of the month", adding that the withdrawal agreement "contains a number of mechanisms and legal remedies to address violations of the legal obligations contained in the text - which the European Union will not be shy in using". He said the EU would "not be shy" in using "legal remedies" written into the withdrawal agreement to address any "violations".
The UK government said it would "discharge its treaty obligations in good faith", but added that "it is important to remember the fundamental principle of parliamentary sovereignty." Mr Sefcovic said Mr Gove had given no indication that the UK government intended to remove the contentious elements of the bill during their meeting.
The UK government has previously said it would "discharge its treaty obligations in good faith", but added that "it is important to remember the fundamental principle of parliamentary sovereignty".
The bill has not been withdrawn and is set to be debated by MPs on Tuesday.The bill has not been withdrawn and is set to be debated by MPs on Tuesday.
'Fundamental gaps''Fundamental gaps'
Other long-running sticking points that could stymie negotiations include state aid and fishing access.Other long-running sticking points that could stymie negotiations include state aid and fishing access.
During this week's talks, negotiators will also discuss law enforcement and transport. The two chief negotiators - the EU's Mr Barnier and the UK's David Frost will meet on Friday morning.During this week's talks, negotiators will also discuss law enforcement and transport. The two chief negotiators - the EU's Mr Barnier and the UK's David Frost will meet on Friday morning.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said sources in government say that while progress is being made, there are "fundamental gaps" between the two sides and talk of "optimism" in recent days has been overstated.BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said sources in government say that while progress is being made, there are "fundamental gaps" between the two sides and talk of "optimism" in recent days has been overstated.
Time is tight and there is no breakthrough... yet. A sentence you may just have heard before in these Brexit negotiations.Time is tight and there is no breakthrough... yet. A sentence you may just have heard before in these Brexit negotiations.
The chief negotiators on both sides - Lord Frost for the UK, Michel Barnier for the EU - will oversee this week's discussions, before meeting formally on Friday morning.The chief negotiators on both sides - Lord Frost for the UK, Michel Barnier for the EU - will oversee this week's discussions, before meeting formally on Friday morning.
Whatever happens, a crunch point is rapidly approaching.Whatever happens, a crunch point is rapidly approaching.
The deadline for a deal is two and a half weeks away.The deadline for a deal is two and a half weeks away.
Like lots of Brexit deadlines it could slip a bit... but not by much.Like lots of Brexit deadlines it could slip a bit... but not by much.
If the sides fail to reach a deal by the end of the year, the UK would trade with the EU on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.If the sides fail to reach a deal by the end of the year, the UK would trade with the EU on World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
This would mean tariffs would be applied to most goods which UK businesses send to the EU, making UK goods more expensive and harder to sell in Europe.This would mean tariffs would be applied to most goods which UK businesses send to the EU, making UK goods more expensive and harder to sell in Europe.
The UK could also apply tariffs to EU goods.The UK could also apply tariffs to EU goods.