UK environment secretary George Eustice dampens down expectations of EU trade deal

As protracted and painful negotiations between the UK and the European Union (EU) continue in Brussels, the British environment secretary has adopted a lukewarm position on the prospects for success.

Boris Johnson lowers expectations of Brexit trade negotiations breakthrough

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

In two interviews with the UK’s leading broadcasters, George Eustice has tried to highlight substantial sticking points in the outstanding divergent areas between the two sides.

 In his first interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Eustice said: “There’s still a deal to be done, but there’s no denying that the end of last week was quite a setback”.

“The sticking points remain – quite fundamental ones. We’ve been clear all along that we can only do an agreement if it respects our sovereignty”, Eustice added.

However, on a more ominous note, Eustice proclaimed: “I think we probably are now in the final few days in terms of deciding whether there can be an agreement”.

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In a separate interview with Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday talk show, Eustice claimed the negotiations are in “a very difficult position” but the UK is ready to keep talking “until there is no point doing so any further”.

Eustice tried to shift the blame onto the other side for the difficulties by claiming that EU negotiators had “added a whole load of additional demands” and by doing so had created a “setback” in the talks.

Eustice was particularly scathing of the EU on fishing rights, accusing Brussels of making “ludicrous” demands over access to British waters.

"There is also the more important principle that you would not be able to give any guarantees for the long-term [on fishing rights], otherwise you are effectively guaranteed access in perpetuity to our waters which is just not right under international law”, Eustice told Sophy Ridge.

"We would be the only country in the entire world that could agree that, so such a suggestion really is quite ludicrous and not consistent with international law", Eustice added.

Earlier Sky News quoted a source close to the British negotiating team describing the latest talks in Brussels as akin to the “final throw of the dice”.

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The last gasp of negotiations come on the heels of an hour-long phone call on  Saturday (December 05) between Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in which the two leaders reportedly agreed on a “final” push to secure a trade deal.

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In a joint statement following their discussion, Prime Minister Johnson and von der Leyen said that while "progress has been achieved in many areas... significant differences remain on three critical issues: level playing field, governance and fisheries".

Johnson and von der Leyen have reportedly agreed to hold another telephone call on Monday evening (December 07).

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