Britain lands early win on trade talks by demanding they are held in English
BRITAIN yesterday chalked up an early win over the EU on trade deal talks — to hold them in English.
The language victory was revealed as both sides agreed ground rules for the breakneck round of negotiations.
As well as persuading the EU to conduct them in English, the head of the PM’s team, David Frost, has ensured that if officials want to speak in French, they must pay the interpreters’ bills.
Both sides also pledged to keep their talks strictly confidential to stop leaks designed to undermine each other.
The negotiators have just seven months to seal the complex deal. It has to be wrapped up by September to give parliaments time to ratify it by the end of the year.
Talks between Mr Frost and EU counterpart Michel Barnier begin on Monday.
Eleven teams will carry out simultaneous negotiations to try to save time. They will cover issues from goods trade and services to transport links, fisheries, energy supply and law and order.
Talks will alternate between Brussels and London. Two sessions a month have been agreed until June when Boris Johnson will meet all 27 EU leaders for a special summit.
He says he will walk away from talks if an outline deal has not been agreed by then.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
But France’s Europe minister Amélie de Montchalin yesterday suggested at least six more months might be needed.
Ms de Montchalin said: “We cannot let our level of ambition be affected by what I would call artificial deadlines.
“Substance is much more important than deadlines.”
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]