The leaders of the European institutions and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a summit on Monday to discuss the stalled negotiations over a European-British trade agreement.
Besides the British Prime Minister and EU President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President David Sassoli will also take part in the video conference.
The United Kingdom left the European Union at the end of January but remains part of the customs union and single market during a transition period until the end of this year. London and Brussels can still jointly decide in the coming two weeks to extend the transition period.
The Conservative government of Johnson has so far consistently rejected this option but now said that negotiations will take place every week from June 29 to July 31. The new process includes a mix of formal negotiation rounds and meetings in smaller groups.
However, the talks are deadlocked, and it is uncertain whether an agreement will be reached in time. The EU has repeatedly indicated it is open to extending the transition period, but the British side has consistently declined. Without an agreement, a 'hard' Brexit threatens. In practice, this would mean stricter border controls and higher import tariffs.
Last week, the European Parliament once again expressed their support for the EU position in the talks between the European Union and the UK on their future relations in a resolution. In it, the members of the European Parliament regret that no real progress has been made so far and that the differences remain significant. They warn about the current fragmented approach of the British government and emphasize that a comprehensive agreement is in the interest of both parties.
The text stresses that the Parliament's approval of a future trade agreement with the UK depends on the condition that the British government agrees to a level playing field (common rules and standards) in areas including environmental protection, labor standards, and state aid, as well as on concluding a fisheries agreement.
It was previously agreed that this month the high-level balance of talks would be made. As recently as Friday, after the fourth round of negotiations lasting a week, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said there had been “no substantial progress.” His British counterpart spoke of “limited” progress. The four are expected to try on Monday to bring the positions closer together.
The European Parliament will again discuss Brexit progress later this week during the plenary session in Brussels. Commission President von der Leyen is expected to report on her talks with Johnson on Tuesday or Wednesday.
If no breakthrough occurs, the European Parliament can block the matter. MEPs threaten to veto a future trade agreement between the EU and the UK if it falls short regarding environmental standards and workers’ rights, according to a draft resolution of the European Parliament seen by the British newspaper The Guardian.