5.7 C
Brussels
Monday, December 9, 2024
EuropeDowning Street hits back at EU for 'unnecessarily difficult' Brexit talks after...

Downing Street hits back at EU for ‘unnecessarily difficult’ Brexit talks after France blames UK for deadlock

DISCLAIMER: Information and opinions reproduced in the articles are the ones of those stating them and it is their own responsibility. Publication in The European Times does not automatically means endorsement of the view, but the right to express it.

DISCLAIMER TRANSLATIONS: All articles in this site are published in English. The translated versions are done through an automated process known as neural translations. If in doubt, always refer to the original article. Thank you for understanding.

Juan Sanchez Gil
Juan Sanchez Gil
Juan Sanchez Gil - at The European Times News - Mostly in the back lines. Reporting on corporate, social and governmental ethics issues in Europe and internationally, with emphasis on fundamental rights. Also giving voice to those not being listened to by the general media.
        <!-- Ad Placements Start -->




The UK Government has said the European Union is making <a href="/topic/brexit" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-4536801-/topic/brexit" data-vars-event-id="c23">Brexit</a> talks "unnecessarily difficult" after <a href="/topic/france" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-4536801-/topic/france" data-vars-event-id="c23">France</a> accused the UK of deliberately stalling in negotiations.































It comes as Britain and the bloc remain in a stalemate as they try to agree on future trade ties. 































UK-EU talks ended with little progress last week amid warnings of a no-deal Brexit if key issues are not settled within weeks. 




































With just four months until the transition period ends, both sides have failed to resolve various sticking points, like fisheries and state aid policy. 


The UK Government hit back, accusing the EU of making it “unnecessarily difficult to make progress” (AFP via Getty Images)

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has now blamed Britain for the deadlock, saying talks are not advancing because of the “intransigent and unrealistic attitude of the United Kingdom”.

He told his country’s ambassadors that the bloc of 27 nations will not buckle under pressure from London.































“On Brexit we always showed unity and proved wrong those who saw signs of an overall implosion of <a class="wpil_keyword_link " href="https://europeantimes.news/category/europe/"  title="Europe" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Europe</a>," he said. 


































"It is in staying united that we can stick to our line of a global accord."
The EU’s chief negotiator arriving at Downing Street for talks earlier this summer (PA)

But Downing Street hit back, accusing the EU of making it “unnecessarily difficult to make progress”.

A spokeswoman said: “We have been clear from the outset about the principles underlying the UK approach: we are seeking a relationship that respects our sovereignty and which has a free trade agreement at its core, similar to those the EU has already agreed with like-minded countries.























    <!-- AYL ads -->
















“However, the EU is still insisting not only that we must accept continuity with EU state aid and fisheries policy, but also that this must be agreed before any further substantive work can be done in any other area of the negotiation, including on legal texts, making it unnecessarily difficult to make progress.
The prime minister gesticulates during a video call to the EU (via REUTERS)

“We will continue to work hard to reach agreement and look forward to the next round taking place next week.”

<!-- perform eplayer -->














It comes after Germany reportedly scrapped plans for Brexit talks at the EU ambassadors summit next week after a "completely wasted" summer of negotiations.























<!-- mpu0 ads for mobile -->













The German government, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU council, had planned to discuss Brexit during the meeting on September 2, according to the Guardian.































<aside class="inline-block inline-related item-count-4 align-right"><h2 class="box-title">Read more</h2>

</aside>But an EU diplomat told the publication that Brexit has been "taken off the agenda" due to the lack of "tangible progress".































While Angela Merkel had been pegged as a potential dealmaker when negotiations resume and enter a critical stage on September 7, the diplomat said: “Over the recent months Franco-German cooperation has gained new traction.







“Given this new reality it would be futile to wait for a white knight from Paris or Berlin to come to the rescue.”







Both sides have said September is an effective deadline for an agreement to allow time for it to be ratified before Britain leaves EU rules at the end of December.








        <!-- Ad Placements End -->






            <aside class="tags"><span>More about:</span>

                <span class="separator">|</span>
                <a href="/topic/downing-street">
                  Downing Street
                </a>

                <span class="separator">|</span>
                <a href="/topic/european-union">
                  European Union
                </a>

                <span class="separator">|</span>
                <a href="/topic/brexit">
                  Brexit
                </a>

                <span class="separator">|</span>
                <a href="/topic/france">
                  France
                </a>

            </aside>
- Advertisement -

More from the author

- EXCLUSIVE CONTENT -spot_img
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -spot_img
- Advertisement -

Must read

Latest articles

- Advertisement -