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BREXIT trade talks with the European Union are to be ramped up a notch as officials were ordered “to get on with the job “after a month of delay due to the coronavirus crisis.
PUBLISHED: : , Thu, Apr 9, 1266571
UPDATED: : , Thu, Apr 9,
(Brussels officials) are preparing to intensify negotiations over the next six weeks after the process ground to a halt, sources have told Express.co.uk. Both sides were forced to abandon two rounds of face-to-face trade talks after they were deemed to risky to hold as the global pandemic wreaked havoc across the continent. Lead negotiators David Frost and Michel Barnier will hold their first high-level talks since early March after both going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms.
European capitals were this week debriefed on a series of draft trade proposals put forward by Boris Johnson’s negotiating team three weeks ago. Diplomats, who have yet to be shown the text, were told by Mr Barnier’s deputies that there remains “some very, very large gaps” between the two sides, an EU source told Express.co.uk. The so -called “level-playing field” on standards, fisheries and the governance of the overall trade deal remain the main sticking points, the EU official added.
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BREXIT trade talks with the European Union are to be ramped up a notch as officials were ordered “to get on with the job “after a month of delay due to the coronavirus crisis.
PUBLISHED: : , Thu, Apr 9, 1266571
UPDATED: : , Thu, Apr 9,
(Brussels officials) are preparing to intensify negotiations over the next six weeks after the process ground to a halt, sources have told Express.co.uk. Both sides were forced to abandon two rounds of face-to-face trade talks after they were deemed to risky to hold as the global pandemic wreaked havoc across the continent. Lead negotiators David Frost and Michel Barnier will hold their first high-level talks since early March after both going into self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms.
European capitals were this week debriefed on a series of draft trade proposals put forward by Boris Johnson’s negotiating team three weeks ago. Diplomats, who have yet to be shown the text, were told by Mr Barnier’s deputies that there remains “some very, very large gaps” between the two sides, an EU source told Express.co.uk. The so -called “level-playing field” on standards, fisheries and the governance of the overall trade deal remain the main sticking points, the EU official added.
Post-Brexit trade negotiations to be ramped up in sign of progress (Image: GETTY) (
Michel Barnier and David Frost will hold high-level talks next week (Image: GETTY)
David Frost will share more draft trade plans with Brussels next week (Image: REUTERS) “The importance of advancing in parallel still remains a very strong point. ” Mr Barnier has been told to expect two new British proposals to review before both sides next meet, via video link, before the end of the month.
Sources have indicated the planned papers will cover energy and justice and home affairs. MUST READ: Nicola Sturgeon told to honor Brexit ‘promise’ to Scottish fishermen Michel Barnier has been briefing member states on the UK plans (Image: GETTY)
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Despite doubts over whether both sides can successfully negotiate via video link, EU officials have been told to “get on with the job ”, According to a source. “It’s too early because we don’t have the full backdrop, so why answer questions that are too big to tackle?” 
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