Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, warned European ambassadors at a meeting on Wednesday any discussions at the crunch European Council summit in Brussels next week of a compromise, particularly around fishing, would damage unity. Clément Beaune, the Europe minister for France, said: “Our fishermen will not be a bargaining chip for Brexit. They will not have to pay the price for Britain’s choices." Mr Barnier will press home the point to European leaders that further concessions are needed from the UK and not fall into a trap set by Boris Johnson to turn the event into a negotiating deadline, according to a confidential note seen by The Times.
The EU only want to limit the summit conclusions to a simple statement “taking stock” of negotiations and noting that while progress is being made on a trade deal, they will not sign one at any cost.
By taking this approach, Mr Barnier is hoping to distract over the compromises he has already made in talks with UK counterpart David Frost, or is planning to make.
EU diplomats fear major setbacks in signing a deal if the discussions stray into the details of talks, which could risk a hostile reaction.
One diplomatic source said: "Boris keeps saying that a deal is ‘oven ready’ but Barnier will not want to come to leaders with any half-baked detail, especially on fish.
“That can be dangerous and unpredictable.”
During talks with Lord Frost at Downing Street, the EU's chief negotiator Mr Barnier will tell UK counterparts the bloc wants Britain to make a major concession on "level playing field" subsidy controls.
The UK Government has accepted principles on state aid or subsidy control will be part of any Free Trade Agreement but is so far refusing to being bound too much to what the future enforcement regime will be.
Lord Frost is also standing firm over a demand from the EU that Britain adapts regulations in line with European legislation on the environment or food safety as it develops.
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9.24am update: Ireland hopeful of limited Brexit trade deal
The country's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney believes the UK and EU can strike a limited trade deal and agree to implement the terms of their divorce settlement around arrangements for the Irish border.
Simon Coveney told the Newstalk radio station: "I believe we can get a deal, both in terms of a limited trade agreement that avoids tariffs and quotas and put in place the (Northern Ireland) protocol that has been agreed in the withdrawal treaty."
9.10am update: Barnier and Frost locked in crunch talks in London
Michel Barnier is holding talks with David Frost in London as time runs out for a deal on a post-Brexit trade agreement.
Boris Johnson wants an agreement in place by the time of next Thursday's European Council summit in Brussels.
The meeting in London comes after the Prime Minister and European Council President Ursula von der Leyen agreed last weekend to intensify negotiations in a final push for an agreement.
A further rounds of talks will be held in Brussels next week before the crucial summit in the Belgian capital.
8.37am update: UK and EU enter crucial week - with warning from Brussels
The UK and EU are entering a critical week in post-Brexit trade talks ahead of next week's crunch European council summit in Brussels.
Boris Johnson has set the summit date as a deadline for determining whether an agreement on a future relationship can be reached before the transition period deadline of December 31.
But ahead of that summit, European council President Charles Michel said the negotiations on a trade deal have reached the "moment of truth".
He insisted EU wants a deal but not at any cost, and has told the UK to "put all its cards on the table".
Mr Michel said: "The coming days are crucial, this is the moment of truth.
"There is only one week to go before the European Council on October 15 and 16."
He added: "I have been very clear with Prime Minister Johnson.
"It's now for the UK to restore trust and to put all its cards on the table.
"The EU is doing its utmost to find an agreement with the UK, but not at any cost."
8.20am update: SNP attempts to keep Scotland linked to Brussels post-Brexit shot down by EU
Brussels has shot down Nicola Sturgeon's SNP plans to link Scotland closely with the European Union after Brexit with an EU official warning "it could create a difficult position".
A new Bill put forward by Ms Sturgeon’s Constitution Secretary hopes to allow Scottish ministers a discretionary power to align laws with EU legislation.
The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill means on devolved matters Scotland can keep in line with those in Europe "when appropriate and practicable to do so".
The Bill proposes to allow the Scottish Government to use regulations rather than legislation to "keep pace" with the European Union on devolved areas after Brexit.
The discretionary powers will come into effect after the Brexit transition period ends on December 31 if the legislation is passed by the Scottish Parliament.
The Bill also includes provisions to ensure EU environmental principles and governance can continue in Scotland.
A new body called Environmental Standards Scotland will be set up to ensure compliance with environmental law under the legislation.
The Bill has now been scrutinised by cross-party SNP, Labour, Lib Dem and Tory MSP's on Holyrood’s Finance and Constitution Committee who stressed the Scottish Government would need to be clearer on how they would exercise such a power but backed the initial reasoning of the Bill.
But Brussels has cast doubts over the legislation stressing Scotland would have to reapply if they wanted to rejoin the EU "just like everyone else”.
8am update: Brexiteer issues no-deal warning to EU
Conservative MP John Redwood tweeted: The UK should not surrender our fish or our law making powers.
"Leave the talks as promised if the EU still doesn’t agree a Free Trade Agreement.
"We trade well with the USA without an Agreement so FTAs are not essential."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5leHByZXNzLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvcG9saXRpY3MvMTM0NTY1My9icmV4aXQtbGF0ZXN0LW5ld3MtdWstZXUtdHJhZGUtZGVhbC1maXNoZXJpZXMtYm9yaXMtam9obnNvbi1taWNoZWwtYmFybmllci1uby1kZWFsLWJyZXhpdNIBjQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5leHByZXNzLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvcG9saXRpY3MvMTM0NTY1My9icmV4aXQtbGF0ZXN0LW5ld3MtdWstZXUtdHJhZGUtZGVhbC1maXNoZXJpZXMtYm9yaXMtam9obnNvbi1taWNoZWwtYmFybmllci1uby1kZWFsLWJyZXhpdC9hbXA?oc=5
2020-10-09 06:59:00Z
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