Last effort for a trade agreement

Britain and the EU have agreed to make a “last resort” and continue talks on a trade agreement in the post-Brexit era.

“Our negotiating teams have been working day and night over recent days. And despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiations, despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over we think it is responsible at this point to go the extra mile,” said in a joint statement the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson.

“We have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the talks and to see whether an agreement can even at this late stage be reached.”

The decision has already been welcomed by European Council President Charles Michel, who told France Inter radio: “We must do everything we can to make an agreement possible. “We have to support a good deal.”

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney today described as a good sign the joint British-EU announcement to resume trade talks and described as clearly a very difficult but possible trade deal for the post-Brexit era.

“Time to hold our nerve and allow the negotiators to inch progress forward – even at this late stage. Joint statement on Brexit negotiations is a good signal. A deal clearly very difficult, but possible,” Simon Coveney said on Twitter.

In any case, Britain’s exit from the Community’s forecasts will bring about some major changes:

1. Free travel end

From January, to visit a British EU country, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, you must have a passport that does not expire earlier than six months. In addition, you need travel insurance with health coverage, but also a special permit for driving or to take your pet with you. Respectively the trips from EU to Britain require a passport and other special planning.

2. Border control

British tourists will be able to visit Schengen countries for up to 90 days without a visa. Their documents will be checked at the border.

3. More bureaucracy

Free movement of people between Britain and the EU will not exist. For all EU citizens already living in the UK there will be a safety net until 30 June 2021 under the exit agreement. To extend their stay they must submit a special application under the EU Settlement Scheme or apply for citizenship. Those who want to move to the other side for work or study from now on will have to issue a relevant visa.

4. Price increases and delays in imports
Importers and exporters will have to go through customs controls. Some goods, including certain foods, plants and animals, will need to have special certificates and permits. Unless there is a last minute agreement, tariffs and quotas will be imposed under World Trade Organization rules.