EU CAN'T
Full Brexit trade deal WON’T be possible without delaying beyond 2020, new EU boss Von der Leyen warns Boris
A FULL Brexit trade deal won't be possible without delaying beyond 2020, the new EU boss warned Boris Johnson today.
Ursula Von der Leyen promised a “truly ambitious” new partnership with Britain, but said it would be very tricky to get a deal done this year.
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It comes on her first visit to the UK as EU boss, taking over from Jean Claude Juncker at the end of last year.
Her comments are a blow for Boris Johnson, who has repeatedly promised he can sort a bumper trade deal by the end of 2020 when we finally leave the EU.
Despite no longer being a member, it would mean Britain remaining by all the bloc's rules as well continuing to fork out into the EU's budget.
Mr Johnson has met with the European Commission chief later today for crunch talks at Downing Street.
He was tipped to refuse any suggestion of an extension, and demand trade talks begin immediately so we can get on with leaving.
This comes after fears the Commission will drag their feet in a desperate bid to keep Britain in as long as possible.
Speaking at the London School of Economics today, Von der Leyen said: “The more divergence there is, the more distant the partnership has to be.
“And without an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, you cannot expect to agree on every single aspect of our new partnership.
“We will have to prioritise.”
However, in a boost for Britain ahead of the official opening of trade discussions, Ms Von der Leyen promised the deal would be “unprecedented in scope”.
She added: “We are ready to design a new partnership with zero tariffs, zero quotas, zero dumping.
“A partnership that goes well beyond trade and is unprecedented in scope.
“Everything from climate action to data protection, fisheries to energy, transport to space, financial services to security.
“And we are ready to work day and night to get as much of this done within the time-frame we have.”
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The 61-year-old insisted “we should be optimistic”, and vowed Europe would never turn their back on Britain, even after we eventually leave.
She said: “I hope that by being constructive and ambitious in the upcoming negotiations, we can all move forward together.
“There will be tough talks ahead and each side will do what is best for them.
“But I can assure you that the United Kingdom will always have a trusted friend and partner in the European Union.”
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