This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54384437

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Brexit: EU calls for trade talks to 'intensify' ahead of call with UK Brexit: Trade deal with UK 'up to EU', says Boris Johnson
(about 1 hour later)
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for post-Brexit trade talks to "intensify" ahead of a call with Boris Johnson on Saturday. Boris Johnson has said it is now up to the EU to avoid a no-deal scenario over post-Brexit trade.
The pair will take part in a video conference to "take stock" of negotiations and "discuss next steps". After the final round of formal talks between officials, the prime minister said a deal was "all there".
The UK and EU completed the last round of formal talks in Brussels on Friday with a meeting between lead negotiators Lord Frost and Michel Barnier. But the prime minister said Brussels had to be "commonsensical" to get it across the line, with both sides setting an October deadline to settle their differences.
Both sides have said a deal needs to be agreed this month. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for talks to "intensify".
She is due to meet Mr Johnson on Saturday via video call to "take stock" of the situation and decide the next steps.
Talks between chief negotiators Lord David Frost and Michel Barnier broke up earlier, without an agreement.
Mr Barnier said "persistent serious divergences" remained between the two sides, while Lord Frost said there was "very little time now to resolve these issues".Mr Barnier said "persistent serious divergences" remained between the two sides, while Lord Frost said there was "very little time now to resolve these issues".
The meeting between Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen will come days after the EU launched legal proceedings against the UK over its plans to override sections of its Brexit divorce deal.
The UK formally left the EU in January, but entered a transition period - where the UK has kept to EU trading rules and remained inside its customs union and single market - to allow the two sides to negotiate a trade deal.The UK formally left the EU in January, but entered a transition period - where the UK has kept to EU trading rules and remained inside its customs union and single market - to allow the two sides to negotiate a trade deal.
Formal talks began in March and continued through the pandemic, but there has been concerns over whether a plan would be agreed before that period runs out on 31 December. Formal talks began in March and continued throughout the pandemic, but there has been concerns over whether a plan would be agreed before that period runs out on 31 December.
Issues that have become particular sticking points between negotiators are state aid - when governments give financial support to businesses - and fishing rules. Issues that have become particular sticking points between negotiators are state aid - where governments give financial support to businesses - and fishing rules.
The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said there had been "rumours of progress" in the talks from UK officials, but they have not been confirmed by EU teams.
The EU has said a deal must be reached before the end of October to allow it to be signed off by the member states before the end of the year, while Mr Johnson has said both sides should "move on" if agreement was not reached by the middle of the month.The EU has said a deal must be reached before the end of October to allow it to be signed off by the member states before the end of the year, while Mr Johnson has said both sides should "move on" if agreement was not reached by the middle of the month.
If a deal is not done, the UK will go on to trade with the bloc on World Trade Organisation rules.If a deal is not done, the UK will go on to trade with the bloc on World Trade Organisation rules.
Speaking ahead of her call with the UK PM, Mrs von der Leyen said: "We should not forget we have made progress in many many different fields, but of course the most difficult ones are still completely open." 'Every chance'
In a round of interviews with the BBC, Mr Johnson said: "I hope that we get a deal, it's up to our friends."
He told BBC Northern Ireland's Mark Devenport: "They've done a deal with Canada of a kind that we want, why shouldn't they do it with us?
"We're so near, we've been members for 45 years. It's all there, it's just up to them."
The PM also said to BBC Midlands Today's Elizabeth Glinka there was "every chance to get a deal", but added: "It's up to our friends and partners to be commonsensical."
Speaking ahead of her call with the UK prime minister, Mrs von der Leyen said: "We should not forget we have made progress in many many different fields, but of course the most difficult ones are still completely open."
She pointed to the problems with the so-called "level playing field" with state aid - calling it "a question of fairness" - as well as the issue of fishing,
But, she added: "Overall, where there is a will there is a way, so I think we should intensify the negotiations because it is worth working hard on it."But, she added: "Overall, where there is a will there is a way, so I think we should intensify the negotiations because it is worth working hard on it."
'Familiar differences'
In a statement released after the meeting, Lord Frost said the week's talks had been "constructive" and "conducted in a good spirit" - but he also said there are areas where "familiar differences remain".
On fishing, he said the gap was "unfortunately very large", and he called for the EU to "move further before an understanding can be reached" on state aid.
The negotiator added: "I am concerned that there is very little time now to resolve these issues ahead of the European Council on 15 October.
"For our part, we continue to be fully committed to working hard to find solutions, if they are there to be found."
Mr Barnier agreed the negotiations had been conducted in a "constructive and respectful atmosphere", with some "positive new developments on some topics", such as aviation safety and police cooperation.
But he said there was "a lack of progress on some important topics", such as climate change commitments, "as well as persistent serious divergences on matters of major importance for the European Union", including state aid and fishing.
Mr Barnier added: "To reach an agreement, these divergences must necessarily be overcome over the next weeks.
"We will continue to maintain a calm and respectful attitude, and we will remain united and determined until the end of these negotiations."
News of the talks between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen is significant and Saturday cannot be dismissed as more blah blah in the Brexit process.News of the talks between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen is significant and Saturday cannot be dismissed as more blah blah in the Brexit process.
Speculation is rife, of course, as to why the prime minister and the EU Commission president have suddenly scheduled their digital tête-à-tête.Speculation is rife, of course, as to why the prime minister and the EU Commission president have suddenly scheduled their digital tête-à-tête.
In general, it's interpreted as a positive sign.In general, it's interpreted as a positive sign.
The accepted wisdom has always been that negotiating teams can only make so much progress.The accepted wisdom has always been that negotiating teams can only make so much progress.
And that the final push - the politically tough decisions on how much to compromise on the final sticking points - would have to come from up high.And that the final push - the politically tough decisions on how much to compromise on the final sticking points - would have to come from up high.
But we're not there yet.But we're not there yet.
It's possible the prime minister and Mrs von der Leyen are talking tomorrow to explore who is really willing to make what compromises on the final outstanding issues.It's possible the prime minister and Mrs von der Leyen are talking tomorrow to explore who is really willing to make what compromises on the final outstanding issues.
For now, the why's and what's of Saturday's talks are pure speculation.For now, the why's and what's of Saturday's talks are pure speculation.
The only thing we know for sure: the UK and EU say they want a deal - though not at any price.The only thing we know for sure: the UK and EU say they want a deal - though not at any price.
Yet if and when a deal eventually emerges, both sides will have had to make compromises.Yet if and when a deal eventually emerges, both sides will have had to make compromises.
Read more from Katya here.Read more from Katya here.
There were also concerns trade talks would stall over a new law brought in by the UK government. In a statement, Lord Frost said the final round of negotiations had been "constructive" but "familiar differences remain".
MPs passed a new bill last month, which the government said would "protect the integrity of the UK market" and any issues with a border on the island of Ireland in case of a no-deal scenario. The legislation has still to be passed by the Lords. On fishing, he said the gap was "unfortunately very large", and he called for the EU to "move further before an understanding can be reached" on state aid.
Ministers conceded some clauses would "break international law" if they were enacted by overriding the deal agreed with the bloc when the UK left in January, known as the withdrawal agreement. The negotiator added: "I am concerned that there is very little time now to resolve these issues ahead of the European Council on 15 October [the deadline set by the PM to reach a deal].
When the government failed to remove the clauses by the end of September, Ms von der Leyen confirmed the EU had sent a "letter of formal notice" to the UK, which could eventually lead to a court case at the European Court of Justice. "For our part, we continue to be fully committed to working hard to find solutions, if they are there to be found."
Mr Barnier agreed the negotiations had been conducted in a "constructive and respectful atmosphere", with some "positive new developments on some topics" - such as aviation safety and police cooperation.
But he said there was "a lack of progress on some important topics", such as climate change commitments, "as well as persistent serious divergences on matters of major importance for the European Union", including state aid and fishing.
He added: "We will continue to maintain a calm and respectful attitude, and we will remain united and determined until the end of these negotiations."