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A Brexit trade row is brewing as Britain is only days away from its European Union exit, according to reports.<\/p>\nA Brexit trade row is brewing as Britain is only days away from its European Union exit, according to reports.<\/p>\n
The Times reports that Brussels will attempt to gain the upper hand before trade talks start late next month by insisting European judges continue to hold sway in Britain after Brexit.<\/p>\n
The UK will leave the European Union on Friday, with the country entering a transition period where relations with the bloc will largely stay the same while negotiators look to thrash out a trade deal before the end of the year.<\/p>\n
According to the Times, a leaked diplomatic document suggests the EU is preparing to demand that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is able to enforce rules on trade, fishing and security even after Britain is classified as a third country.<\/p>\n
A document seen by the paper reportedly states that having a defined role for the Luxembourg court, which adjudicates on EU laws, would \u201censure consistent interpretation of the agreement\u201d between the UK and EU.<\/p>\n
Downing Street has been contacted for comment about the alleged demands.<\/p>\n
It comes as the EU\u2019s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the UK\u2019s insistence on moving away from Brussels-made laws and the scrutiny of its judges meant trade without some form of customs checks was \u201cimpossible\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Belfast, he said: \u201cThe UK has chosen to become a third country, to leave the single market and the customs union, to leave behind the EU\u2019s framework of common rules, common supervision and common Court of Justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has chosen to create two regulatory spaces. This makes frictionless trade impossible. It makes checks indispensable.\u201d<\/p>\n
In further comments that will be set to worry Brexiteers, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also indicated that Brussels would look for concessions on fishing in exchange for the UK\u2019s financial services industry to have better access to the European single market.<\/p>\n
The Vote Leave campaign vowed that Britain would be able to have control of who fishes in UK territorial waters upon leaving the EU and the common fisheries policy (CFP).<\/p>\n
At present, the CFP dictates how much British fishermen can catch and where, and fishermen have often complained they do not get a fair share of what is caught in UK waters.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach told the BBC: \u201cWhat happens in these things is trade offs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may have to make concessions in areas like fishing in order to get concessions from us in areas like financial services.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding to the comments, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson\u2019s official spokesman said: \u201cWe are going to be taking control of our fishing waters. We have been clear on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only will Britain cease to be a member of the EU after 6pm EST (11pm local time) on January 31 but the Brexit department will also be abolished.<\/p>\n
A new \u201ctaskforce\u201d will lead the UK\u2019s trade negotiations rather than the Department for Exiting the European Union (Dexeu), the Government has confirmed.<\/p>\n
The Taskforce Europe Team within Number 10 will be headed by Mr Johnson\u2019s chief Europe adviser, David Frost, and will report directly to the PM, Downing Street said.<\/p>\n
Number 10 said that Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay would cease to be a Cabinet minister after the Dexeu is disbanded at the end of the month.<\/p>\n