Angela Merkel panic: German Chancellor admits MAJOR Brexit fear in EU speech - Express

The German Chancellor said the post-Brexit negotiations had shown little signs of progress in recent weeks despite the two sides accelerated efforts. But Mrs Merkel refused to admit defeat, insisting she would be kept “busy” until the end of the year trying to deliver a free-trade agreement. Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, Mrs Merkel said: “One key partner will remain the United Kingdom.

“We need to shape our future relationship and that will keep us busy over the next six months.

“Progress in the negotiations thus far have been slim, to put it diplomatically. We’ve agreed with the UK to accelerate the pace of talks to reach an agreement by the autumn – an agreement that can be ratified by the end of the year.

“I will continue to push for a good solution but we should also prepare for a possible no-deal scenario.”

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed to do her “utmost” to reach an agreement with Britain before the transition period expires at the end of the year.

The German, however, warned the bloc would not agree to an agreement at any cost.

She said the future relationship pact with Britain must “respect the core principles that bind us in Europe”.

Mrs Merkel’s intervention comes as negotiators work in London to break the deadlock over Brussels’ demands for a regulatory level-playing field and continued access to Britain’s fishing waters.

The two sides’ top negotiators held a private dinner at Downing Street to kick off the negotiations.

David Frost, the prime minister’s lead negotiator with the EU, said: “Delighted to meet my fellow chief negotiator Michel Barnier at No10 last night and to kick off today’s talks in London.”

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The pair will hold further talks in Brussels next week before another official negotiating round in London on July 20.

Sources said the talks had been "positive" so far as the two sides work on a broad "landing zone" for a potential agreement. 

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2020-07-08 13:36:43Z
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