Upbeat UK Negotiator David Frost contrasts with “EU Eeyore”, M. Barnier

Dates are set for three more weeks of Brexit trade talks

Brexit Facts4EU.Org shows how the talks can be accelerated massively

“Very happy to talk to @michelbarnier today and agree a refreshed timetable for UK / EU negotiations by videoconference - starting next week. We are both keen to make progress.”

- David Frost, Head of ‘Task Force Europe’, 15 Apr 2020

“We need real, tangible progress in the negotiations by June. We must advance across all areas.”

- Michel Barnier, Head of EU’s ‘Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom’ (UKTF), 15 Apr 2020

They have now agreed a revised timetable for an intensive set of video meetings over the next six weeks. These will comprise three full weeks of negotiations and the first of these will start on Monday next week. Here are the dates:-

20-24 April
11-15 May
01-05 June

The two sides released a joint statement yesterday, which can be read here.

Observations

There are two characteristics of the EU’s side in these negotiations which continue to stand out.

The first is the optimism of Mr Frost compared to the continued cloud of depression sitting over Brussels that is Monsieur Barnier. The second is the fact that the EU have not adapted to the new Coronavirus circumstances in the slightest.

The joint statement contains a link to the “Terms of Reference”. This is a typical EU-originated piece which is in essence a procedural document. The EU loves its procedural documents and refers back to them constantly, as if no-one would have any legitimacy without these.

In this case there is one part of this document which needs to be looked at in the light of the Coronavirus. The EU originally tried to insist on 12 negotiating groups. These were:-

Trade in Goods
Trade in Services and Investment and other issues
Level Playing Field for open and fair competition
Transport
Energy and Civil Nuclear Cooperation
Fisheries
Mobility and Social Security Coordination
Law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
Thematic Cooperation
Participation in Union Programmes
Horizontal arrangements and governance
Cooperation on foreign policy, security and defence

The UK declined to provide a negotiating group for the last on the list, and quite rightly too.

We think the UK should now propose publicly that some of the other areas also be removed. Given the time pressures, this would allow more focus on the priority area of trade, and for much more progress to be made, much faster.

Let's get this trade show on the road

We suggest that ongoing trade now be the primary focus. Areas such as “Level Playing Field for open and fair competition”, “Civil Nuclear Cooperation”, “Mobility and Social Security Coordination”, “Law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters”, “Thematic Cooperation”, and “Participation in Union Programmes” can all safely be talked about in the future, once the new trading arrangements are agreed.

The negotiating groups could then be reduced to four or so. Much more manageable. Much more likely that a deal will be reached by 31 Dec 2020.

We’re pleased to have been of help, Monsieur Barnier.

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Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Thur 16 Apr 2020

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Reader Comments 15

1. Hugh , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 05:23:

This article reinforces what you pointed out in your previous article on Thursday. The EU is not and never has been serious about reaching a sensible deal with the UK. We should go WTO now, not even wait till December in my view.

2. Neil C , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 05:26:

How's Mr Farage's Italexit campaign going?

3. Howard / Bristol , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 06:27:

I find it scarcely credible that the EU still thinks it should be talking to the UK about things like "Mobility and Social Security Coordination". Mobility is now their word for Freedom of Movement so they can forget about that full stop.
With the EU's own currency close to collapse you would think they would be focused on their economies and keeping trade flowing after December 31. These things need to be highlighted in the UK and in the EU. Well done for raising this.

4. Patrick F , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 07:08:

David Frost (DF): Bonjour, Michel.
Michel Barnier (MB): Good morning, David.
DF: ok let's crack on. Item one Trade in Goods.
MB: We seek greater clarity. What is trade and what are goods?
DF: Oh FFS, not again! We went through this BS last time. Trade is, how can I put it....buying and selling. For example, you make cheese and I want to buy it.
MB: We seek greater clarity. What is cheese?
DF: A dairy product, like Camembert that is delicious.
MB: We seek greater clarity. What is delicious?
DF: Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.
MB: We seek greater clarity. Is Julie Andrews a cheese?
DF pauses. Yes. Julie Andrews is a cheese.
MB: At last, clarity! How much Julie Andrews can we have?
DF: No way Michel! Boris is not going to surrender one of our national treasures.
MB: Come back next week, when you have clarity on Boris's position on Julie Andrews.
DF: Rightiho! See you in two weeks!!

5. NoThankEU , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 07:17:

Reply to Hugh (1) :
Totally agree with you & hope we do end up going the WTO route - it will be better than any deal the EU will agree to.
The charade has to be worked through, however pointless it may be.

6. Saddened , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 07:49:

With the EU, WTO exit the day after our referndum was the only sane position to take! I fail to comprehend the stupidity of the British government's appeasement of the EU for over 4 years since that momentous and joyous referendum result. It is starting to feel like Europe is heading for yet another war, brought about by the EU and other globalists.

7. andy nuneaton , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 08:38:

I see the BBC-EU have tried to blatantly [again] promote the delay tactics with today's manufactured article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/...
(Oh BTW thanks Germany for the 50 ventilators - much of which was made by the BBC in its news outlets - my word what will the BBC-EU do when the US/non-EU countries provide the lead to drive the world out of this crisis)?

8. Catherine, Dollar , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 08:45:

Thank you for another insightfull and useful piece. Agree. Except I think the UK govt needs to be extremely wary about no. 11 negotiating group - horizontal arrangements and governance .. Horizontal arrangements immediately spells cross-linking by the EU, aka blackmail: unless you comply on this, all these other goodies go. And 'level playing field' - since when does the EU make any playing field level?
In fact, just seeing most of the items on the EU's list gets the hackles up.

9. Sydney Ashurst , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 10:14:

I am aware that despite the closing of borders due to Covid 19 we still officially have freedom of movement until December.
Because Eastern European farm workers cannot make their own way to the UK, they are being flown in on charter flights to pick fruit and vegetable crops. By agreement with the Romanian Government these seasonal workers are coming to the UK on temporary work permits.
Seasonal farm workers have always come to the UK and will continue to do so after December 2020.
Now that students cannot travel abroad perhaps they may be minded to help pick the crops, observing social separation.

10. tarien , Thursday, April 16, 2020, 11:51:

Here here Sydney, all students should be conscripted into work on the UK Farms-however they will have to live in Caravans or similar whilst doing so in view of the Coronavirus. Apart from that why the H is the UK still paying those ugly useless S....d... £50 million a day, when the UK desperately needs that money here and now. They certainly do not need it.
Thanks to the Duke of Westminster who has bunged £ 10, million into the NHS-use it wisley NHS people.

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