Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said that a “good agreement for both sides” is attainable after the opening round of negotiations over a trade deal with the UK this week, but warned that “serious” differences remain.
Speaking to the press in Brussels, Barnier hinted that “very difficult” matters must still be resolved, including over issues such as competition rules, police co-operation, and who will ensure that the deal is adhered to.
The UK wishes to break away from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights and European Court of Justice, which Barnier says will affect the level of security co-operation possible between the UK and the bloc.
He also alluded to a “question of trust” remaining over the UK’s promise to stick to fair and open competition, given the UK’s rejection of the European courts having the right to police the agreement.
Furthermore, prime minister Boris Johnson has dismissed the idea of the UK needing to sign up to EU rules on state aid and other competition policy to secure a free-trade deal.
On the issue of fisheries, Barnier told the media that the UK's want for a quota-based fishing agreement in a similar vein to that the EU has with Norway would be “impractical”, due to the number of fish species concerned.
Barnier said: “There's a hundred species or so. What we can do [in agreeing a quota] with Norway on five species simply isn't possible for 100 species.”
However, he admitted that the number of flashpoints in the opening round of talks was “no surprise”.
A UK government spokesperson echoed Barnier’s view that “significant differences” remain, but hinted that the opening round of talks this week had been “constructive”.
He said: "These are going to be tough negotiations - this is just the first round.
"We now have a good idea where both parties are coming from.”
The spokesperson added that their team had told the EU that the future partnership between both sides mist reflect the fact that the UK "will regain legal and economic independence" at the end of 2020.
Talks resume in London later in March.
