December 8th Britain and the European Union announced that part of the progress had been made on Northern Ireland in the negotiations on the future relationship between Britain and Europe.
But at the same time, facing the urgent deadline of less than one month left in the “Brexit” transition period, the possibility that Britain and Europe will eventually fail to reach a trade agreement is increasing.
According to a BBC report on the 8th, the United Kingdom and the European Union have reached an agreement on how to implement the border rules for Northern Ireland.
The report said that the British government said that it had reached agreement in principle on issues such as border checkpoints and drug supply, and would delete some controversial provisions in the previously launched Internal Markets Act.
At a press conference on the 8th, the Vice Chairman of the European Commission, Shevđović, welcomed the British government’s withdrawal of articles 44, 45 and 47 of the Internal Markets Act.
But he also stressed that the EU has no intention to hide the problem, and that “it is still far from reaching a trade agreement between the two sides”.
According to sources, the EU’s chief negotiator Barnier told the European ministers of the 27 EU countries on the 8th that it is “more likely that a trade agreement cannot be reached” before December 31.
British Prime Minister Johnson also said on the 8th that it seems “very difficult” for the UK to reach a trade agreement with the European Union.
Johnson said that although he was “full of hope” for an agreement, the current situation is very difficult, and the United Kingdom may suspend negotiations on future relations between Britain and Europe at some point.
At the invitation of European Commission President von der Leyen, Johnson will go to Brussels on the 9th local time to meet von der Leyen for talks.
