Martin: Barnier has 'the necessary flexibility to continue with the negotiations.. for a Brexit Deal

He emphasized the need of mutual respect on these negotiations and I think he was given the necessary flexibility to continue with the negotiations on behalf of the European Council to ensure a comprehensive, fair free trade deal between the UK and the EU.

We discussed climate change last evening and there was again a good sense of agreement and consensus on key issues around climate change, but of course the major discussion on that will be towards the endo of the year, at the December summit.

We had a very serious and concerning discussion las evening on COVID-19, which is spreading right across Europe and many leaders articulating concern about rising numbers in most of our member states, and the need for stronger coordination at European level in relation to testing techniques and testing methodologies, for example. Coordination of expertise across Europe would be helpful there. Also, the issue around quarantine frameworks, and crucially the vaccine procurement and vaccine distribution, and the European Commission is to be commended for the proactive work that has taken in that regard. And there was an agreement that we will now almost weekly engage in consultations with each other in terms of the best methods to deal with this second wave of the spread of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday kept the door open to more Brexit talks but insisted Britain was ready to slam it shut unless the EU offers "fundamental change" in its tactics, as the clock ticks down to a potentially messy divorce.

Johnson was responding after the European Union at summit talks Thursday demanded he give ground on key stumbling blocks while also proposing a fresh round of talks next week in London.

The summit outcome appeared to rule out a comprehensive, Canada-style free trade agreement between the EU and Britain, Johnson said, accusing the 27-nation bloc of failing "to negotiate seriously" in recent months.

"They want the continued ability to control our legislative freedom, our fisheries, in a way that is obviously unacceptable to an independent country," he said in a broadcast interview.

He said that "unless there is some fundamental change of approach" from the EU, Britain's favoured approach for an all-encompassing deal was out.

"And so with high hearts and complete confidence we will prepare to embrace the alternative," Johnson said.

He said Britain should "get ready" to operate on stripped-down World Trade Organization rules from January akin to Australia's relationship with the EU.

"And we can do it, because we always knew that there would be change on January 1 whatever type of relationship we had," he said, pointing to sector-by-sector arrangements in areas such as social security, aviation and nuclear cooperation.

"And we will prosper mightily as an independent free-trading nation, controlling our own borders, our fisheries, and setting our own laws."

- More talks? -

The British pound slid below $1.29 in response to Johnson's comments but pushed the London stock market up 1.3 percent, as the weak pound lifts multinationals earning in dollars.

Johnson had set the EU summit as a deadline for a deal, but is under pressure after fresh warnings that British companies are nowhere near ready for the consequences of a cliff-edge divorce when a post-Brexit transition periods ends on December 31.

Britain wants to reassert sovereignty over its waters and refuse EU legal oversight over any deal, insisting it wants an overarching trade deal of the kind the EU adopted with Canada in 2017.

Brussels in turn stresses that Britain's economy is far more integrated with the EU's than Canada's, and that its single market must be protected from British backsliding.

At their Brussels summit, EU leaders demanded Britain compromise on fair trade rules to unblock the stalled post-Brexit talks.

Chief negotiator Michel Barnier also proposed more meetings in London next week and the EU confirmed it would be in the British capital to intensify negotiations from Monday.

Irish prime minister Micheal Martin said EU leaders had given Barnier "the necessary flexibility to continue with the negotiations... to ensure a comprehensive fair and free trade deal".

The insistence of France and other northern EU fishing nations on maintaining access to British waters has been another key stumbling block in the talks so far.

[iainmcmillan]

These people are talking about respect but are trying to get around the rules on EZ of none eu countries

[bloke]

The Uk just wanted a Free Trade Deal, but the EU wanted strings attached. Boris will go for No Deal now and concentrate on our USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada deals, You can deal with Lizz Truss next year.

[barrykirkby]

tuff Boris has gone with no deal 20 mins ago

[angrybrit]

It's pretty simple no arbitration method no fishing rights without a UK license and fees and we will take the deal if not then WTO it is

[annoyingbstard]

As long as he does what twenty seven different countries with differing demands and requirements want him to do. Forget it.

[roymichaeldeanable]

He wasn't given flexibility....and look whats happened....

[mark.k]

1.50 into the video b4 anything happens

[barrykirkby]

vaccine vaccine. nooo ya plastic paddy.