Michel Barnier has signalled that he is ready to drop the EU’s most contentious demand that its rules limiting government subsidies to businesses are inserted into British law after another week of stuttering negotiations over a future trade and security deal, reported The Guardian.
In a move immediately welcomed in Downing Street, the bloc’s chief negotiator declined to publicly back the EU’s opening demand that the UK incorporate Brussels’ State aid rules into its domestic legislation.
Speaking to reporters via a video conference call, Barnier said he would not “speculate where we’ll end up” on the issue. State aid rules did not form part of the discussions in the most recent talks between the two negotiating teams, he said.
The demand until now has been that the EU’s rules on State aid should be incorporated in British law as they develop with the European court of justice acting as the final arbiter.
Barnier said, “We need to work together in order to come up with the appropriate toolbox, the robust commitments that we are clear about is how effective these mechanisms will be so they can ensure long-term, fair sustainable competition between the EU and the UK, but we haven’t got there yet.”
Full Content: The Guardian
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