Negotiations persistent between EU and UK
The negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union continue to be a challenging process, with both sides expressing concern over unresolved issues that threaten to hinder a comprehensive trade agreement.
In a recent development, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Twitter that negotiations would continue, following a phone call with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday evening.
The core obstacles preventing a comprehensive free-trade agreement include trade barriers similar to those faced with non-EU countries, recognition of professional qualifications, and business mobility restrictions, particularly impacting smaller businesses. These issues cause increased paperwork, border formalities, and disruptions in business mobility between the UK and EU. Some UK businesses have reportedly ceased exports to the EU due to these complications.
While both leaders acknowledge the difficulties that have emerged, there is no move to rejoin the Single Market or Customs Union, maintaining regulatory and customs divergence. This makes full alignment challenging.
In a statement, the Commission noted progress in many areas but significant differences in the aforementioned issues. Ursula von der Leyen reiterated her stance, stating that an agreement is not possible unless these problems are resolved.
Negotiators will meet again tomorrow to continue discussions, with both sides expressing a commitment to improving trade relations and addressing as many barriers as possible. However, the structural issues that prevent a comprehensive free-trade agreement akin to EU membership remain unresolved.
[1] Source: UK government document outlining the current challenges in the UK-EU trade relationship.
- The ongoing challenge in the UK-EU trade relationship centres around issues such as trade barriers, recognition of professional qualifications, and business mobility restrictions, which are part of the broader discussion on war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation in politics.
- Despite recent progress in many areas of negotiations, the lack of resolution on the core obstacles for a comprehensive free-trade agreement highlights the general-news that findings from the UK government document indicate the structural issues that prevent a UK-EU agreement similar to EU membership remain unresolved.
