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Brexit: Gove in Brussels as EU trade talks resume Michael Gove: Brexit provisions to stay in Internal Market Bill
(32 minutes 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. Michael Gove has said parts of a bill which override provisions in the Brexit deal agreed with the EU would remain, despite EU requests to remove them.
Mr Gove met European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic to discuss implementation of the Brexit divorce deal. The Cabinet Office minister said he is "committed" to reaching a deal on the UK's future relationship with the EU.
He met the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic to discuss the UK's future relationship with the EU on Monday.
Mr Sefcovic said the UK's negotiating position is still "far apart from what the EU can accept".Mr Sefcovic said the UK's negotiating position is still "far apart from what the EU can accept".
Formal trade talks will resume on Tuesday. Formal trade talks resume on Tuesday.
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. Mr Gove said the talks on implementing the withdrawal agreement are at a "healthy stage".
He described the atmosphere as positive but added that "much was to be done". But both sides say there is still disagreement over the UK's plan to override parts of the withdrawal agreement relating to Northern Ireland in a bill currently going through the House of Commons.
Speaking after his meeting with Mr Gove, Mr Sefcovic echoed this view. Speaking after his meeting with Mr Gove, Vice President Mr Sefcovic said there was a "window of opportunity" to come to an agreement on the Northern Ireland protocol, but added that was "rapidly closing".
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 disagreement centres on the UK government's Internal Market Bill, which would override agreements made on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The agreement aimed to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which is still part of the EU.
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 - concerning Northern Ireland.
Mr Sefcovic repeated the EU's request for the UK to remove the "contentious parts" of the bill by the end of September.Mr Sefcovic repeated the EU's request for the UK to remove the "contentious parts" of the bill by the end of September.
He said the EU would "not be shy" in using "legal remedies" written into the withdrawal agreement to address any "violations".He said the EU would "not be shy" in using "legal remedies" written into the withdrawal agreement to address any "violations".
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. But Mr Gove said the provisions on Northern Ireland would remain in the Internal Market Bill.
"There are those in European Union who have been concerned about clauses in Internal Market Bill but I was able to stress today these clauses are a safety net," he said.
He added: "We want to reach agreement in the joint committee, we want to make sure position of Northern Ireland is secure in UK, we want to make sure the withdrawal agreement is implemented in full. But those clauses are there, they are in legislation, supported by the House of Commons...and those clauses will remain in that bill."
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 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 is set to be debated by MPs on Tuesday.
'Fundamental gaps''Fundamental gaps'
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.
Ahead of the resumption of trade talks, 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".
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.