(VOVWORLD) - European Union and British negotiators are on the “very last mile” in negotiations for a trade accord and the architecture in place is “fine” but details remain, the EU’s chief executive said on Monday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (right) meet in Brussels, Belgium, December 9, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
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“We are on the very last mile,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told an OECD event via video link.
“We want a level playing field, not only at the start but also over time ... this is the architecture that we are building,” she said. “We’re fine about the architecture itself but the details, do they really fit?”
The British Government and the EU on Sunday agreed to “go the extra mile” in coming days and continue negotiations on a post-Brexit trade agreement.
European Council (EC) President Charles Michel welcomed the decision, saying the parties should do their best to reach a good deal.
The decision was also welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Conveney.
“Every opportunity to reach a deal is highly welcome,” Merkel said at a press conference in Berlin. Meanwhile, Mr. Conveney said “I think both sides do want a deal and they want a deal now,” Coveney told national broadcaster RTE. “My view is that a deal can be done, but it really needs to be done within the next few days.”
Britain quit the EU in January but remains an informal member until Dec. 31 - the end of a transition period during which it has remained in the EU single market and customs union.