Longer Brexit transition period ?: EU politicians demand Johnson's approval

Tuesday 22nd December 2020

Longer Brexit transition period?
EU politicians are demanding Johnson's approval

British Prime Minister Johnson does not want to hear about an extended transition period around Great Britain's exit from the European Union. EU parliamentarians are therefore increasing the pressure, seeing the United Kingdom as being "double burdened".

Leading EU parliamentarians have appealed to Great Britain to agree to an extended Brexit transition period in view of the coronavirus mutation. Great Britain is "just twice burdened", said parliamentary vice-president Katarina Barley of the SPD the "editorial network Germany" ("RND"). If a deal with the EU on future relations is reached before the end of the year, "it would be sensible to examine this calmly" and to continue to apply the internal market rules in full during the short transition period.

The hand of the EU for a temporary extension of the transition phase is "always outstretched", stressed Barley. It is up to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "take this hand now". The previous transition period, during which Great Britain remains fully part of the internal market despite its exit from the EU, expires at the end of the year.

"Constructive and pragmatic"

The head of the Brexit group in the European Parliament, David McAllister, said: "We want to take all necessary steps to minimize distortions for our citizens and companies. We are also concerned about the critical situation surrounding the corona virus." It's about "working constructively and pragmatically on feasible solutions."

The chairman of the trade committee in the European Parliament, Bernd Lange from the SPD, also told the "RND" that in view of the new virus mutation, the best solution would be for Great Britain to agree to an extension of the transition period. But he has "no great hope" that this will happen.

Several disputed points

The EU and UK negotiators continued their trade deal negotiations on Monday. However, the EU Parliament declared the timely ratification of a possible deal no longer feasible.

The main points of contention in the negotiations for months have been fair competition, control of a future agreement and access to British waters for EU fishermen. While there had been significant progress recently on the first two sticking points, the fishing question remained difficult until the end.

"No Deal" Brexit more and more likely

Great Britain left the EU on February 1st. In order to avoid serious consequences for the economy by the end of the current transition period by the end of the year, a trade agreement should be negotiated within the transition period.

A deadline set by the EU Parliament for a finished text expired on Sunday evening. Should an agreement still be reached in the coming days, it could possibly come into force for the time being and only be ratified afterwards. However, time is running out for that too: EU circles said that a provisional application of an agreement from January 1st would only be feasible if an agreement was reached by Christmas.

Alternatively, there is a threat of a "no-deal" scenario where tariffs and other trade barriers at the borders with the United Kingdom will become a reality from January 1st. Cut travel connections between Great Britain and the rest of Europe due to the fear of the spread of the mutated variant of the coronavirus, which has so far mainly been found in southern England, are already providing a foretaste of this.