EU WISH
Brussels demand access to fish & EU rules in Brexit blueprint – but Boris vows to deliver independence
BRUSSELS bosses are playing hardball over negotiations with the UK, demanding access to fishing waters and telling Brits to play by their rules on trade.
Boris Johnson has promised to deliver freedom for Britain after the EU published its blueprint for Brexit talks today, which could start as soon as Monday afternoon.
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The EU published its proposals for the future of its relationship with the UK, which will set the scene for the next 10 months of Brexit battles with the EU.
The bloc has ignored Boris' warnings that he will never accept European control in a post-Brexit Britain.
A series of the talks will be held in London, in a power-play from Boris, and are due to start in weeks.
EU negotiator Michael Barnier has said discussion could start Monday afternoon.
Mr Barnier slapped down British hopes of striking a Canada-style trade deal and said a trade deal would not come "at any price".
He said: “The UK will be the EU’s third largest trading partner, almost 10 times bigger than Canada. At the same time Canada is some 5000 km away. It’s clear that the rules cannot be the same. It’s logical, it’s simple.”
He added: "We are ready to offer a high ambitious trade deal to the UK. But the UK cannot expect high quality access to the single market if its not prepared to accept guarantees that competition remains open and fair and free.
"There must be a robust level playing field."
He accused the UK of putting unnecessary time constraints on the negotiations.
"The pressure is not being put by us. The British government is putting the pressure of time on these negotiations."
Brussels and Britain only have 10 months left to strike a deal before the UK leaves on December 31, 2020, and Boris has pledged not to extend the transition period.
The EU tried to tell the UK to fall into line, and agree to to a "level playing field" which would require Britain to follow the rules set out by the bloc once the transition period ends.
Despite saying Britain should be able to keep "autonomy" over trade, they laid out demands stopping the UK from setting their own tariffs or charges on goods coming into the country for the Union.
French EU Minister Amelie de Montchaline said France would not accept any trade deal where the UK doesn't follow EU rules.
She said this morning: "The UK is a sovereign country... but when products leave the UK and want to enter the EU, it's up to us to decide."
The UK's proposals for trade talks have been signed off in Cabinet but won't be published until Thursday.
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The mandate from the EU also demanded access to the UK fishing waters - a position the PM is unlikely to consider.
Eurocrats insisted fisherman from member states should still be allowed to fish in British waters even after the transition period.
They said the UK should uphold "continued reciprocal access" to "avoid economic dislocation".
The PM has already slapped them down over the hated Common Fisheries Policy which Brexiteers are determined to scrap it.
Boris' spokesman said: "The (European Exit Strategy) Committee has just approved the UK's negotiating mandate. It was a very smooth process to agree our approach which will restore our economic and political independence."
"The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on January 1 2021."
The PM's promise to leave the single market and customs unions would be scuppered by the EU's attempts to enforce the "level playing field".
Boris has said repeatedly the UK would not be a rule taker in the future relationship.
WHAT THE EU WANTS
Fisheries: EU countries want British fishing waters to stay open for fisherman from all member states
Trade: The UK should fall into line, keep tarriffs of European goods and follow EU regulations on food standards
Courts: European courts would still have some say over the decisions made by British courts
Historical Artefacts: The UK must return the Elgin Marbles to Greece
The bloc is also trying to make Britain follow their standards on issues such as chlorinated chicken - a potential flash point for a trade deal between the US and the UK.
Boris has said he will hold discussions for a US-UK trade deal at the same time as he thrashes out an agreement with the EU.
The PM will be careful not to put a deal with the US in jeopardy by signing up to restrictive EU measures.
The EU has also tried to tell Britain it should follow standards dictated by the bloc on issues such as state aid, workers rights, environment.
Brussels also told the UK they would need to hand power to the EU Court of Justice and away from the British courts.
It threatened to halt cooperation on criminal law enforcement if the UK refused to abide by the European Convention of Human Rights.
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