Boris Johnson wants Brexit talks with EU

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to hold Brexit talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a bid to achieve a trade deal before autumn this year.

British officials expressed their hopes that the two leaders would inject “political momentum” in the negotiations. Johnson promised the need for a broad agreement in place by the summer.

EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier called on the UK to “show more realism” in trade talks, if the country aims at achieving a post-Brexit deal.

Barnier stressed that the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson should “remember” the promises made in the Political Declaration, as “the UK has taken three steps back from the commitments it originally made.

The EU negotiator has frequently warned over “limited time” for the two sides to agree on a trade deal, as the Corona-virus pandemic has delayed bilateral talks, and the transition period is scheduled to come to an end on December 31, 2020.

This week the two sides entered their fourth round of negotiations on their post-Brexit relationship, with the previous talks resulting to a stalemate over key areas.

However, according to reports, none of the two sides is expecting a “breakthrough” in the talks, with hopes focusing on a “high-level” meeting later in the month that will unlock the post-Brexit conundrum.

New Europe / ABC Flash Point EU News 2020.