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LONDON – Numerous diplomatic activities on Sunday failed to advance negotiations between Britain and the EU, leaving well-balanced prospects at the start of a crucial week for talks on the country's exit from the bloc .
"Despite intense efforts, some key issues remain unresolved," EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier said after the tense discussions in Brussels three days before planned summit between British Prime Minister Theresa May and his wife. European counterparts.
It was unclear whether Sunday's stalemate was an important setback for Discussions on Brexit or a moment of political theater in a difficult negotiation and high stakes.
However, tensions are deep within May's split conservative party, with several hard-working members of her pro-Brexit firm having said they would consider resigning if they felt she was making too many concessions in a withdrawal deal .
Britain is due to leave the bloc in March and it is hoped that this week's summit, which begins with a dinner on Wednesday, will at least make significant progress in establishing the basic "divorce conditions" between Britain and the United Kingdom. European Union.
Without agreement, Britain could face a disorderly and economically damaging situation, leaving the block next year.
The most delicate of the outstanding issues is the so-called support plan to ensure that, whatever the case may be in future trade negotiations, there is no need to impose new controls at the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and Ireland, which will remain in the European Union. In addition to the legally binding withdrawal agreement, both parties also want to agree on a looser agreement outlining the shape of their long-term trade relations.
If this week's summit meeting goes ahead, another could be scheduled in November to sign an agreement.
But Ms. May has little room for maneuver in the face of a growing mutiny at home.
On Sunday, David Davis, the former secretary of Brexit, who had resigned from the cabinet earlier this year, had urged ministers to "exercise their collective authority", thereby encouraging them to rebel against May's withdrawal plans. in Great Britain.
Sunday, the successor of Mr. Davis, Dominic Raab, unexpectedly went to Brussels to talk one-on-one with Mr. Barnier. This dampened the first over-optimistic speculations about a breakthrough.
In a statement on Sunday, Raab's department said: "Over the last few days, UK and US negotiators have made real progress in a number of key areas. However, there are still a number of unresolved backstop issues. "
After the talks, before informing the senior diplomats of the European Union, Mr Barnier said the unresolved issues included Irish support plans aimed at avoiding a "hard border".
Ms May's new plan would keep the whole of the United Kingdom in the EU's customs rules until a new trade agreement removes the need for Irish border controls.
Unconditional supporters of Brexit in his cabinet fear that this will become a semi-permanent arrangement and want any promise to respect European customs rules to be temporary. From the point of view of the European Union, this would seriously undermine its value as a guarantee.
Ms May also faces the problems of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, whose 10 members of the UK Parliament are vital to the survival of her government.
They are worried about another aspect of the "support plan", which could involve new regulatory controls on the flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The party fears that this will weaken their union with the rest of the UK, and some of its lawmakers have threatened to withdraw their support for the government when it accepts such plans.
