Two days after Brexit, tension between the European Union and the United Kingdom is skyrocketing again. Archived the celebrations for the historic divorce, Boris Johnson raises the tone of the confrontation again bringing the No deal hypothesis back on the table – stronger than ever – while Michel Barnier, EU chief negotiator for Brexit, reacts with a hard face: “No advantage or right outside the single market”.
"We do not need a free trade agreement that requires alignment with EU rules on competition, social protection, state aid, the environment and the like or in any case nothing more than what the EU would be obliged to accept in exchange for the rules of the United Kingdom", said the British premier who, however, assured his intention to prepare for London high standards capable of avoiding any risk of unfair competition for the 27. However, these standards will not be regulated "in a treaty".
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In fact, the first and fundamental point of the negotiations will be trade, on which an agreement must be found by the end of the transition period, set for 31 December 2020. From this point of view, the will of the European Union is not to discounts. “The UK will no longer be able to enjoy rights and economic benefits if it leaves the single market and customs union on 31 December. This is the framework in which we operate”, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier reiterated on Monday 3 February, presenting the draft mandate for the negotiations on future relations with the United Kingdom that the EU Council and Commission will have to approve in the coming weeks.
Brussels' line is clear: ok to an agreement only if the United Kingdom respects some conditions. In detail, London will have to apply environmental, health and fiscal standards similar to those of the European Union and respect the rules on workers and state aid, avoiding giving too much free hand to its companies. The fear is that, in order to encourage the revival of the economy and avoid the possible repercussions of Brexit, Great Britain offers its companies conditions that are impossible for EU companies to respect, de facto ignoring the rules on competition in force here of the English Channel.
Johnson, however, seems willing to take another path: “The choice, mind you, is not between deal and no deal. We want a free trade agreement, possibly on the Canadian model, but if we fail to reach an agreement with the EU we could come out with an Australia-style deal as well“said the British prime minister. Too bad that "an Australia-style agreement" on a practical level would turn into a quasi-No deal, a minimal agreement that would distance the two blocs light years apart.
In the course of his speech, however, Bernier left the door open: "Our aim is to conclude an ambitious partnership with the UK“, but “let's remain lucid. The best relationship with the EU is and will remain to remain in the EU. When you are not a member of the EU you have a different and less favorable situation,” she said. "We are ready to offer a very ambitious deal including zero tariffs and duties on all goods”, he continued, speaking of the possibility of achieving “an ambitious agreement on services with a broad sectoral coverage”.
"The United Kingdom will not be able to benefit from the economic advantages of a member state at the end of the year," specified Barnier. “We will have two separate markets, instead of one market. Rules of origin and customs formalities will apply. Access to the EU market will be subject to certification and market authorisation".
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