AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Summary
- The clauses breach the international law by letting Britain unilaterally write parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
- Johnson to travel to Brussels for face-to-face talks with the European Commission President
The UK government said that it could remove those clauses in its legislation which breach the Brexit deal with the European Union. It might also review the provisions in another bill in case the talks on the Withdrawal Agreement proceed any further.
Britain and the EU have been in discussions over implementing the Brexit deal or the Withdrawal Agreement. The two parties are trying to find ways for ensuring that the deal and the protocol for the Northern Ireland are put in place without any disruptions.
A government statement said that in case the solutions being proposed under these discussions are agreed, Britain could remove the clause 44 of its internal market bill. It relates to exports declarations. Additionally, it would deactivate clauses 45 and 47 that are about the state aid.
Johnson and Von der Leyen to meet at Brussels
In the meantime, raising hopes of a deal, Boris Johnson, the British PM would be traveling to Brussels for a summit with Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission. Sources have pointed that this meeting could be held this Wednesday or Thursday. However, insiders from both the sides pointed out that there is no certainty of clinching a deal when both the leaders meet.
(Source: ©Kalkine Group 2020)
Earlier, while talking to Von der Leyen over a phone call, Johnson had highlighted his difficulties with meeting the EU demands with regards to issues like fisheries, governance, and a level playing field. The call continued for more than an hour. He later confirmed that there was sufficient ground for him to be making a trip to Brussels.
A joint statement from the two leaders confirming the Brussels meeting came in hours after the UK said that it could drop key clauses from the Internal Market Bill in a case a deal is finalised. These clauses breach the international law by allowing the nation to rewrite sections of the Brexit departure agreement.
The Brexit transition period expires by the end of this year when Britain would be leaving the single European market. Negotiators from either side are struggling hard to strike a mutually beneficial deal.
Simon Coveney, foreign minister of Ireland informed that the mood in Brussels in certainly shifting to emergency planning for a no deal as against the compromises needed to close a deal. “This is surely not where we wish to be heading”, he insisted.
EU leaders to meet this Thursday
Earlier on Monday, Michel Barnier, EU’s chief negotiator had informed that he was not in favour of continuing the talks beyond Wednesday as both the sides would require time to ratify any agreement.
UK would be holding a vote on the new legislation overriding the withdrawal agreement on December 9, this Wednesday, which could be a potential deal breaking move.
The very next day, on Thursday, the EU leaders would be meeting to either sign off the agreement or initiate preparations for a no-deal Brexit, according to sources.
