UK-EU Focus on Future Relations Negotiations Until the Last Minute... "Fisheries Talks Face Difficulties"

Von der Leyen "There is a way to an agreement"
Does not rule out the possibility of no deal

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) continue their negotiations on future relations following Brexit (the UK's withdrawal from the EU) until the final stages, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated on the 16th (local time) that while she does not rule out the possibility of a 'No Deal' with no agreement reached, there has been progress in the talks and the coming days are crucial.

According to Bloomberg and other sources, President von der Leyen appeared before the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, and said, "At this moment, I cannot say whether there will be an agreement or not. However, I can say that there is now a path towards an agreement. That path may be very narrow, but it exists."

President von der Leyen noted that the fishing issue remains unresolved until the final moments. She said, "Discussions on (fishing-related) matters are still very difficult," adding, "Sometimes it feels like these issues cannot be resolved." Nevertheless, she emphasized that efforts will continue until the very end to find answers, as this is the responsible and right course of action.

Following von der Leyen's remarks, a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office confirmed, "We have made some progress, but several significant differences remain." UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also reiterated his stance that while he desires an agreement, the UK will continue to prosper even if one is not reached.

The Prime Minister's Office also stated that if negotiations take place as early as next week, they may request parliamentary ratification before the recess. The UK Parliament is scheduled to conclude its session on the 21st and enter the Christmas recess, but it is open to continuing sessions either just before or after Christmas if necessary.

The UK and the EU agreed to conclude negotiations on future relations, including a trade agreement, within the transition period set to end this year after Brexit on January 31. Despite over nine months of negotiations, disagreements remain on key issues such as creating a level playing field, fishing, and governance for resolving future disputes. Since the transition period ends at the end of this year, failure to reach an agreement would result in tariffs and other trade barriers, effectively leading to a No Deal Brexit scenario.

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