EU chief on Brexit negotiations with UK: 'So close, and yet so far away'

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on December 16 said that British and EU negotiators have me some progress in Brexit negotiations and arriving at a common ground of fair tre rules but ted that discussions are still discrete when it comes to access to fishing waters. refore, EU chief ted that upcoming days are “going to be decisive” especially when UK-EU transition deline is looming. 

As per reports, von der Leyen told European Parliament that “good news” is that both sides have “found a way forward on most issues” before ding that EU negotiator Michel Barnier can w foresee a “narrow path to an agreement”. However, EU chief also called situation of UK being “so close yet so far away” because of differences in fisheries.

"But this is w a case of us being so close, and yet being so far away from each or, because two issues still remain outstanding, you kw m: a level playing field and fisheries,” she reportedly said.

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EU welcomes Brexit tre talks extension

Earlier, EU leers h welcomed news of Brexit tre talks extension, however, y have also insisted that bloc was united in its determination to protect its single market. On Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while speaking at Brussels, h said that UK and EU negotiations would “go extra mile” to find an agreement that would guarantee Britain zero tariff, zero-quota access to EU’s internal market after what she described as a useful phone call with Boris Johnson.

In a televised statement, she said that both sides have discussed major unresolved topics and negotiating teams are w working to see wher an agreement can be reached. Following her remarks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that everything should be done to reach an agreement that would avert a chaotic and ecomically damaging deal. While speaking in Berlin, she said that every opportunity to reach a deal is “highly welcome". Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, also said that he believed a deal was “clearly very difficult,” however, he ded that it was within reach providing both sides held ir nerve. 

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