Michel Barnier is giving a Brexit update.
Switch to English. It's a button at the bottom of the screen.
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/ebs/live/1
Switch to English. It's a button at the bottom of the screen.
audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/ebs/live/1
Michel Barnier: There has been no significant progress
Michel Barnier: The UK wants fishing to be done by annual review. EU says no.
Michel Barnier: We've always been open to the idea of an extension for 1 year or 2 years. But the UK has ruled this out.
Michel Barnier: If there's no extension agreed before 30 June, then the deadline to complete our new deal is 31 October. Otherwise it's no-deal.
That's because they need time for the EU countries to ratify it.
That's because they need time for the EU countries to ratify it.
Michel Barnier: The Political Declaration is the only relevant reference or precedent which shall set the terms for our future relationship.
Yet the UK keeps trying to distance it.
Yet the UK keeps trying to distance it.
Michel Barnier: The Political Declaration, which Boris Johnson signed, states that due to our geographic proximity there will need to be a level playing field on regulations to avoid unfair competition.
Michel Barnier: "In all areas the UK continues to backtrack on the commitments it has undertaken in the Political declaration".
Michel Barnier: It seems clear that we are not going to reach our target.
Michel Barnier: Some of objectives set out in this [UK's] common paper, such as avoiding export declarations on goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain are incompatible with the legal commitments set out in the [Withdrawal Agreement] Protocol [on Northern Ireland].
In the interest of being fair/impartial, the on area where Michel Barnier seems to have some responsibility/fault is that he doesn't appear, from my perspective, to have been clear or consistent on state aid, in terms of the application of EU law.
But I may need to look into it.
But I may need to look into it.
Michel Barnier explains that the reason why goods going from Northern Ireland to Britain will need export declarations, is because Northern Ireland is staying effectively within the customs Union so it needs to be clear whether things entering NI are just for NI or for GB.
Michel Barnier: Other deals take years. The only way we can get this done in months is if it's zero tariffs and zero quotas, but that requires a level playing field on regulations.
Michel Barnier: If there's no deal on fish, there's no trade deal, full stop.
