London offers 'free trade zone' with EU for post-Brexit



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Theresa May on Friday presented her vision of the future relationship she wants with the European Union, baderting that her ministers, very divided over Brexit, had reached a "common position".

of free trade "with the EU for the post-Brexit period. This proposal was long awaited by the Europeans, tired of the procrastination of the British government on the content of the negotiations on the divorce from the EU, planned in less than nine months. The British plan was unveiled in the form of a statement issued after an executive marathon meeting at Checkers, the country residence of British prime ministers, 70 km north-west of London. 19659003] »READ ALSO – In London, an underperformance due to the" Brexit factor "

" Our proposal would create a free trade area between the United Kingdom and the EU with a set of common rules for industrial goods and agricultural products, "says Theresa May in this paper, Downing Street specifying that the service sector would be the subject of" different arrangements ". "We have also agreed on a new business-friendly customs model with the freedom to enter into new trade agreements around the world," added the Conservative Prime Minister. According to the British executive, these proposals will prevent the return of a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, this issue being the main stumbling block of the current negotiations and a major concern for the inhabitants.

In this project, London also emphasizes the need to "step up" the preparatory work to face all possible scenarios – in particular that of a possible exit from the EU without agreement with Brussels, that companies fear. Theresa May, who will publish a white paper detailing her objectives next week, says the proposal is the result of a "common position" by her government's members, whose divisions on Brexit's policies had made people fear the worst. for the Friday meeting at Checkers. The publication of Theresa May's draft had already been published, but was already provoking critical reactions from the Eurosceptics side. "We now see the true face of Theresa May. This is a bad (plan) for the UK, "said John Longworth, co-chair of the pro-Brexit Movement Leave Means Leave.

" Step by Step "

Rest now to know what will be the reaction of Brussels, who would like to see the discussions finally progress. "The sooner we have a precise British proposal on the Irish border, the better the chances of finalizing the Brexit negotiations this year," said European Council President Donald Tusk this week. On Friday, Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, said he was "ready to adapt his offer" and hoped that the white paper will resolve "the UK's internal political debate and negotiations with us".

Faced with the risk of deadlock, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, raised Thursday the possibility of extending negotiations. On Friday, however, he stressed that this would require unanimous agreement of the 27 EU members. At his side, the head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said: "we want to stick to the established timetable. We will operate step by step. "

The British proposal should also be closely scrutinized by companies, which also did not hide their discomfort this week. Patience "is at an end," said Adam Marshall, the managing director of the British Chambers of Commerce. Tom Enders, the executive chairman of the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, was pessimistic about the outcome of the negotiations. "Whether it's hard, soft, light or clean, (Brexit) will cause damage to the aviation industry and others, and cause damage in the UK," he said. [19659010]! function (f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {
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