Set against the backdrop of conventional style Brexit talks being shelved amid the coronavirus outbreak, the European Parliament’s largest party by grouping is attempting to push the UK into extending the Brexit transition period because of the current coronavirus pandemic. The UK officially left the EU on January 31st of this year but it remains in a transition period until December 31st, 2020. During this period the UK still has to abide by the bloc’s rules on issues such as trade and free movement whilst a future deal is negotiated.
The EU permits for the transition period to be extended for up to two years. However, the British Parliament passed the ‘Brexit bill’ earlier this year. This bill enshrined Britain’s exit date into law. In other words, if a deal is not struck, then the UK and the EU will trade on World Trade Organization terms. In-person Brexit talks have been put on hold understandably. However, meetings have been held remotely. The first such meeting of the UK-EU joint committee between Michael Gove and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič took place on Monday, both sides described it as “constructive”.
This has not stopped the ‘European People’s Party’ which is the largest grouping in the European Parliament which represents the parties of Angela Merkel and Leo Varadkar calling for the transition period to be extended. The MEP Christophe Hansen from Luxembourg and of the EPP has said “Under these extraordinary circumstances, I cannot see how the UK government would choose to expose itself to the double whammy of the coronavirus and the exit from the EU single market, which will inevitably add to the disruption, deal or no deal. I can only hope that common sense and substance will prevail over ideology. An extension of the transition period is the only responsible thing to do.”
The Times has also been reporting that “senior officials” are claiming that Boris Johnson will have no alternative but to extend if face-to-face talks cannot be held before the summer. However, in contrast to this, the Conservative Brexiteer and chairman of the European Research Group, Mark Francois has urged the Prime Minister not to give in to pressure and said “with the focus quite rightly on fighting Covid-19 the last thing we need now is a distraction of reopening old battles over Brexit.”
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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