BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – Diplomatic sources have said that Britain and the EU are inching closer to a deal on reciprocal social security rights for their citizens after Brexit. Talks on the trade deal are one of the most positive so far, said one of them.
According to EU diplomats, the bloc is looking at taking the negotiations until mid-November rather than cutting off discussions at the start of next month to avoid a “no-deal” scenario which can be damaging when the UK leaves the bloc on Dec. 31.
In the discussions last week, there was no breakthrough in the most disputed issues such as fisheries, fair competition guarantees and means to settle future arguments. In spite of that, the prospect of an overall agreement looks bright.
“We seem to be getting closer and closer to a deal, even though the no-deal rhetoric in public might suggest the opposite,” said one of the sources.
An estimated one trillion euros worth of bilateral trade is at stake and investors and businesses are wary of a divorce with no agreement.
A senior EU official dealing with the Brexit talks said the discussions were “in a decisive period” and “not far away from the endgame”.