Brexit talks continue - or do they! (4k)

Brexit talks continue - or do they

And the Brexit theatre continues. With stories of the talks are back on but no they're not!

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On the face of it, Boris Johnson made a definitive statement on Friday that the Brexit talks were over and we must prepare for a no-deal Brexit - unless Brussels acquiesced to our demands.

And with reports coming out of the EU that they would intensify talks without conceding an inch most of us would have thought it's game over.

However, the Times reports that the EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier has told our man Lord David Frost, that Brussels will make concessions to get a deal.

But what this appears to be is an agreement to start work on legal texts despite agreement over fishing rights, the level playing field and governance having not yet been reached.

Michel Barnier also Tweeted yesterday:

"I just spoke to @DavidGHFrost . As stated by President @vonderleyen on Friday, I confirmed that the EU remains available to intensify talks in London this week, on all subjects, and based on legal texts. We now wait for the UK's reaction."

And an Express report from yesterday said:

"Michel Barnier mounted a major climbdown in a desperate bid to salvage the post-Brexit trade talks.

"The European Union's chief negotiator said he was prepared to finally begin work on a joint legal text after months of dithering."

But although it sounds like a Brussels cave in, it does not stand up to Brexiteer scrutiny. Because it definitely does not mean that Brussels has given any ground on those three main sticking points.

And the Independent is reporting that Boris Johnson has told business to keep preparing for no deal as there is no basis to re-engage in the talks.

"Downing Street said there was "no basis" to resume talks despite an offer from EU negotiator Michel Barnier to discuss legal texts, a subject the prime minister had made a condition for restarting negotiations."

It said.

And a Number Ten spokesman said:

"This was a constructive discussion. The UK has noted the EU's proposal to genuinely intensify talks, which is what would be expected at this stage in a negotiation. However, the UK continues to believe there is no basis to resume talks unless there is a fundamental change of approach from the EU.

"This means an EU approach consistent with trying to find an agreement between sovereign equals and with acceptance that movement needs to come from the EU side as well as the UK. The two teams agreed to remain in close touch."

Now, BBC Europe editor Katya Adler reports that although many in Brussels see Boris as a serial wolf-cryer where deadlines are concerned - remember the dying in a ditch - she says that there is a growing unease in the bloc that Boris might actually do something radical this time.

On the Brussels side, the EU Commission published a lengthy statement yesterday following the fourth meeting of the Brexit talks oversight committee, the EU-UK Joint Committee, co-chaired by UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove and Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic.

And looking at that it looks like the EU is working on the basis of business as usual but intensified.

"The aim of today's meeting was to jointly assess the current state of the implementation work, following the recent meetings of the Specialised Committees, and to reach a shared understanding of the outstanding issues and a detailed timeline for their resolution."

"Vice-President Šefčovič welcomed the clear political steer and commitment given today by Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and co-chair of the Joint Committee, so that the EU and the UK can reach mutually agreed solutions on all outstanding issues on the table, in particular with regard to the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland."

And it is this aspect of the Withdrawal Agreement that seems to be exercising EU minds at the moment.

The EU Commission statement went on:

"With regard to the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, Vice-President Šefčovič reiterated the importance of its full and timely implementation to maintain peace and stability on the island of Ireland by protecting the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement and ensure the integrity of the EU Single Market."

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