With only 10 weeks to go, the European Union (EU) said on Oct. 21 that while a Brexit deal is within reach, Britain won’t be able to access the single market unless it commits to EU rules.
“You can’t have your cake and eat it, too,” said European Council President Charles Michel, reporting to the European Parliament on stalled Brexit negotiations.
“The UK has a bit of a decision to make and it’s their free and sovereign choice.”
London meanwhile has refused to continue full negotiations, saying the EU must “fundamentally change” its stance.
The EU sees this as a bluff by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but has also extended an olive branch by talking up UK sovereignty, as well as the EU’s openness to discuss intensively, across the board, and on specific legal texts.
A spokesman for Britain said London noted “with interest” EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier’s comments that an agreement is still within reach.
They touch “in a significant way on the issues behind the current difficulties in our talks,” the spokesman added.
Michel said the EU council of 27 members were “100 percent united,” and though they wanted “fair play” and a “fair and balanced” outcome, they were nevertheless ready for a no-deal scenario.
‘Independent Arbitration’
He called for a “binding, independent arbitration” to redress market distortions, adding that London’s draft new Internal Market Bill—which, if adopted, would undermine Britain’s earlier divorce deal with the EU—only strengthened the EU’s resolve to ensure tight policing of any new deal.British CCP virus-hit businesses, however, late last week called for a “pragmatic approach” to Brexit negotiations.
“Now is the time for historic political leadership,” the joint statement said.
“With compromise and tenacity, a deal can be done. Businesses call on leaders on both sides to find a route through.”
Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost were scheduled to talk on the phone at 2 p.m. on Oct. 21.