UK and EU Leaders Urgently Meet in Person as No-Deal Brexit Becomes Likely

Meeting Decided After Phone Talks on the 7th... "Differences Remain"
Likely on the 9th Before EU Summit on the 10th-11th... UK States Position on Internal Market Bill Amendments

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left in the photo) and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to meet in person soon to explore the possibility of future relationship negotiations following the deadlock over Brexit (the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU). Although they held a phone call on the 7th (local time), differences remain on key issues, and a meeting is expected to be arranged ahead of the EU summit.

According to Bloomberg and other sources, after a 45-minute phone call, Prime Minister Johnson and President von der Leyen issued a joint statement saying, "We agree that significant differences remain on three important issues, and therefore we have not reached the conditions to finalize an agreement." They referred to previously mentioned issues concerning fisheries, a level playing field, and governance for resolving future disputes.

The two leaders said they had agreed to meet "in the coming days" and requested their negotiation teams to prepare an outline of the remaining differences for discussion at a face-to-face meeting in Brussels, Belgium. Accordingly, Prime Minister Johnson is scheduled to travel to Brussels to meet with President von der Leyen. Foreign media reported that during the call, von der Leyen mentioned her visit to London earlier this year to meet Johnson and said she had offered to host this time.

The EU summit is scheduled for the 10th to 11th, making this week a critical turning point for whether the two sides reach a trade agreement. Foreign media expect the leaders' meeting to take place around the 9th. Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, emphasized that talks with the UK would not extend beyond the 9th, and since Johnson is not expected to attend the EU summit, discussions must occur before the 10th.

Earlier on the same day, President von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the permanent president of the EU summit, held a video conference with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss Brexit and the EU summit agenda. If an agreement between the EU and the UK is reached, its outline is expected to be presented at the summit; otherwise, the summit is anticipated to acknowledge the failure of the agreement.

Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU on January 31, both sides agreed to complete negotiations on future relations, including a trade agreement, within the transition period set to end this year. Failure to reach an agreement by the end of the year could lead to tariffs and trade barriers, resulting in a 'No Deal' Brexit scenario where the UK leaves the EU without any agreement.

With less than a month remaining before the end of the transition period and the deadlock unresolved, there is a prevailing analysis that political decisions by Prime Minister Johnson and President von der Leyen are now necessary. Bloomberg explained, "The negotiations have progressed as far as possible over eight months, and the signal is that political leaders need to intervene to mediate a compromise for negotiations to proceed."

Before the call with President von der Leyen, Prime Minister Johnson indicated a willingness to delete or amend some provisions of the 'Internal Market Bill' that had provoked EU opposition. He explained that if an agreement on future relations with the EU is reached within a few days, the controversial content related to Northern Ireland in the Internal Market Bill could be removed. The bill is scheduled for debate in the UK House of Commons this week, followed by a final vote for formal legislation.

The bill has been controversial because it contains provisions that could undermine parts of the EU Withdrawal Agreement, which was the basis for Brexit. The EU has repeatedly demanded its withdrawal, and when the UK government refused, it initiated legal action. The bill has been considered another obstacle to reaching a future relations agreement. The UK government's signal of possible concession has led to speculation that it may be a conciliatory move to facilitate the conclusion of future relations negotiations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.