22 December 2020 09:19 am
London (dpa) - Wrangling over a post-Brexit trade pact between the EU and Britain brought no breakthrough over the weekend, stoking fears that the sides will be unable to break the impasse before year’s end.
“Difficult and significant differences” remain unresolved with only 10 days left to strike a deal, according to a senior British government source.
A deadlock over fisheries - a relatively tiny issue in economic terms - seems to be blocking a deal.
But neither side is prepared to give up just yet: Talks are to continue Monday.
“We continue to explore every route to a deal that is in line with the fundamental principles we brought into the negotiations,” the British source said.
The European Parliament had named Sunday as the last opportunity for an agreement on future relations to be reached so that they can properly scrutinize it before ratification.