Re: Barnier Issues Ultimatum!
The Times today has a report which goes into more detail that others I've seen about current Brexit events, entitled "France derails Brexit talks with last-minute demands".
Here's what changed:
' In the parlance of diplomatic language the reference in Michel Barnier’s and Lord Frost’s statement last night to “significant divergences” can be translated as a serious row (Oliver Wright writes). There was no disguising No 10’s anger at the three new demands tabled by the EU.
The first was a variation on a theme — that the UK must be compelled to abide by EU environmental or social rules.
The second is new: that the European Commission is exempt from state aid provisions. This would let the bloc channel money into EU industries, for example for coronavirus recovery plans, while the UK could not.
Finally, on the old sticking point of fishing, the EU will now give up only 18 per cent of their quotas. New arrangements will come into effect after a decade.
The one thing that London and Brussels can agree on is that the new demands were imposed at the insistence of France, with the support of Spain and Italy. '
Basically the French want to be able to subsidise their industry while preventing the UK from doing so, even if it is now outside the EU.
So as well as demanding we give up sovereignty with our seas and with the rule of law they want to hamstring the UK economy!
That is ridiculous, and no wonder talks halted.
So far Boris & co. are sticking to their guns, as indeed they should.
This could well turn out to be the pivotal moment in these so-called "negotiations".
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...ands-2g2pzxpmn