By Ben Kerrigan-
The EU 27 leaders made a joint statement, sending alarm bells of a no deal scenario emerging as a real possibility unless critical issues are urgently dealt with
At a summit in Brussels, Michael Barnier told reporters told reporters: “On Brexit we have made progress, but huge and serious divergence remains, particularly on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“After Brexit, we want an EU-UK ambitious partnership on trade as well as security. But we have to base this partnership on our values and principles, respecting also the UK red lines.
“That means for us integrity of the single market, indivisibility of the four freedoms, autonomy and the decision-making of the EU, and the protection and respect of the fundamental rights of EU citizens.”
The EU27 leaders jointly signed off a statement warning in grave terms about the need to prepare for a no-deal scenario.
They expressed serious concerns about the lack of progress on avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, and demanded an intensification of talks.
Spain also asserted the need to embody a warning in the overall concerns of EU leaders in relation to the disputed issue of Gibraltar. They said the UK also had to come to an agreement on the future of Gibraltar after Brexit if transition terms were to apply to it, under which the UK will stay in the single market and customs union until December 2020.
“The European council expresses its concern that no substantial progress has yet been achieved on agreeing a backstop solution for Ireland/Northern Ireland.
“It recalls the commitments undertaken by the UK in this respect in December 2017 and March 2018, and insists on the need for intensified efforts so that the withdrawal agreement, including its provisions on transition, can be concluded as soon as possible in order to come into effect on the date of withdrawal. It added: “The European council renews its call upon member states, union institutions and all stakeholders to step up their work on preparedness at all levels and for all outcomes”.The leaders also repeated their offer to reconsider their own proposal of a limited free trade agreement, in which customs and single market checks would act as a burden for both sides economies, if “the UK positions were to evolve”.
Theresa May has promised to publish a white paper on her vision for the future trading relationship after a cabinet meeting on Friday. The prime minister is believed to be in favour of retaining single market access for goods despite the UK’s insistence that it will not respect the principle of free movement of people. Earlier this week, Spain’s foreign minister, Josep Borrell, said his country, France and Germany would not accept such a proposal.
Barnier told reporters in Brussels: “Now we are waiting for the UK white paper and I hope it will contain workable and realistic proposals but let me mention once again that the time is very short. We want a deal and are working for a deal but the time is short and I’m ready to invite the UK and the delegation to come back and present next Monday.”
The UK prime minister at a Brussels dinner demanded more flexibility be given to Barnier to go beyond the current levels of cooperation the bloc has with non-members.
The prime minister suggested that European lives would be put at risk if the EU failed to rethink its resistance to deep cooperation, including access to the bloc’s security databases.
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