Negotiators from the European Union and the United Kingdom have made progress in London in their talks on a future European-British trade agreement.
According to unconfirmed reports, texts are already being put on paper, and there is speculation about a date for the signing of documents. That would be a breakthrough.
The rapprochement concerns two difficult dossiers so far: level playing field conditions after the British departure from the EU, and the legally binding oversight of these, insiders told the British news agency Bloomberg. The progress raises hope that an agreement can be reached in early November, the sources said.
The two parties are also reported to be close to finalizing a joint document on state aid and are closer to a decision on how the potential agreement will be enforced.
Although differences remain significant, the progress with drafting texts is a sign that after seven months of negotiations they are a step closer to breaking the deadlock, insiders believe.
Great Britain will leave the EU’s internal market and customs union on December 31. When that happens, various trade tariffs will have to be introduced for imports and exports. The British and the EU are far from having the administration ready for this. In that new situation, millions of consumers and businesses will be affected by costs, quotas, and full customs controls.
If negotiators can resolve their remaining differences sufficiently before November 3, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will reach a final compromise on this in London, according to insiders. In that case, both parties can agree to implement the new customs system only for a limited number of goods and products or delay its introduction.
Access for European fishermen to British fishing grounds remains a major stumbling block in the negotiations. France has earlier said it is willing to restrict fishing. With this, the country aims to give the negotiations a boost.
Within British fishing circles, it has already been proposed to make the same kind of agreement with the EU countries as with Norway (which is not in the EU), which negotiates every five years over quotas for permitted catches.