UK formally rejects Brexit transition period
extension
EU takes UK decision ‘as a definite conclusion of this
discussion.’
By BARBARA
MOENS 6/12/20, 1:51 PM CET Updated 6/12/20, 2:02 PM CET
The U.K.
Friday formally confirmed it will not seek an extension of the Brexit
transition period beyond December 31, British Cabinet Office Minister Michael
Gove said.
Gove spoke
with European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič and EU negotiator Michel
Barnier at the second meeting of the EU-U.K. Joint Committee on implementing
the Withdrawal Agreement earlier today, where he reiterated Downing Street's
refusal.
The Joint
Committee had to decide by the end of the month on whether to extend the status
quo transition. However, there are no more meetings of the commitee planned
until September, meaning the EU takes the U.K.'s decision "as a definite
conclusion of this discussion," Šefčovič told journalists after the
meeting.
"I have taken note of the position of the U.K. on
this issue and have stated, as President Ursula von der Leyen did earlier, that
the EU remains open to such an extension," Šefčovič said. However, he
added: "We take this decision as a definitive one."
"In this context, we both agreed on accelerating
the implementation of Withdrawal Agreement and to accelerate our work,"
the EU vice president said.
While
today's meeting took place in a "very good atmosphere," Šefčovič
warned there is still lots of work to do on implementing the different aspects
of the Withdrawal Agreement, especially the Protocol on Ireland and Northern
Ireland. He added that the U.K. has not provided sufficient detail on how the
protocol will work in practice.
"We
need to move from aspiration to operation, and fast."
Failing to extend Brexit transition period would
be 'extraordinarily reckless', First ministers warn Boris Johnson
The first ministers of Scotland and Wales have called
for an extension to the Brexit transition period, warning it would be
"extraordinarily reckless" to not do so.
ITV REPORT
12 June 2020 at 12:39pm
In a letter
to the Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford said
"fundamental issues" still remain between the UK and EU negotiators
after the most recent round of talks on a deal.
April was
the cruelest month but recovery depends on trade-offs between the economy and
health
Boris
Johnson's lockdown adjustment could 'cause huge problems in Wales'
The
Scottish Government has repeatedly called for the transition period to be
extended beyond the December 31 deadline, but that can only be done if a
request is made before the end of this month.
The UK
Government has previously rejected any calls for an extension.
Ms Sturgeon
and Mr Drakeford warned in their letter that exiting the transition period at
the end of this year, when the UK economy will just be beginning its recovery
from coronavirus, would be "extraordinarily reckless".
The first
ministers wrote: "No-one could reproach the UK Government for changing its
position in the light of the wholly unforeseeable Covid-19 crisis, particularly
as the EU has made it clear it is open to an extension request.
"We
therefore call on you to take the final opportunity the next few weeks provide
to ask for an extension to the transition period in order to provide a
breathing space to complete the negotiations, to implement the outcome, and the
opportunity for our businesses to find their feet after the enormous disruption
of recent months.
"At
the time the Withdrawal Agreement was signed, no-one could have imagined the
enormous economic dislocation which the Covid 19 pandemic has caused - in
Wales, Scotland, the whole of the UK, in the EU and across the world."
The letter
claimed that, at best, there would only be a "bare bones" trade deal
in place by December, or a move to a no-deal exit from the EU.
But in a
tweet on Friday, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said he has
"formally confirmed" to the EU the UK will not extend the Brexit
transition period.
The
statement was made during a meeting of the EU Joint Committee.
Mr Gove
said: "I formally confirmed the UK will not extend the transition period
& the moment for extension has now passed."
"On 1
January 2021 we will take back control and regain our political & economic
independence," he added.
Last
updated Fri 12 Jun 2020
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