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A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 24 december 2020
With time running out, EU and UK near post-Brexit trade deal

By RAF CASERT and JILL able to gain an unfair edge
LAWLESS with its exports to the EU.
Associated Press Britain has said that having
BRUSSELS (AP) — European to meet EU rules would un-
Union and British negotia- dercut its sovereignty. On
tors closed in on a trade those issues, a compromise
deal Wednesday, raising had been reached, a dip-
hopes a chaotic econom- lomat from an EU country
ic break between the two said.
sides on New Year's Day If both sides fail to meet the
could be averted, officials Jan. 1 deadline, it's unclear
said. under what conditions
After resolving a few re- trade would take place
maining fair-competition is- before a deal would even-
sues, negotiators dealt last tually be approved.
with EU fishing rights in U.K. Over the past few days,
waters as they worked to Johnson and EU Com-
secure a deal for a post- mission President Ursula
Brexit relationship after nine von der Leyen have been
months of talks. drawn more and more into
Sources on both sides said European Union flags flutter in the wind amongst Christmas decorations outside of EU headquar- the talks and have been in
the negotiations were in a ters in Brussels, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. contact by phone seeking
final phase, with one EU offi- Associated Press to unblock negotiations.
cial saying: "I expect to see Businesses on both sides are
some white smoke tonight." the EU on Jan. 31, and an plied to many U.K. exports, On Wednesday, the bro- clamoring for a deal that
The official asked not to economic transition period including 10% on cars and kering on quotas and tran- would save tens of billions
be identified because the expires on Dec. 31. more than 40% on lamb, sition times for EU vessels to in costs. A failure to reach
talks were still ongoing. The British Prime Minister Boris battering the U.K. econ- continue fishing in U.K. wa- a post-Brexit deal would
British government said an Johnson has always insist- omy as it struggles to re- ters were in full swing, with lead to more chaos on Brit-
agreement might come as ed the U.K. would "prosper bound from the impact of progress reported from sev- ain's borders with the EU at
soon as Wednesday night, mightily" even if no deal the coronavirus pandemic. eral sides. the start of 2021, when new
but it was not guaranteed. were reached and the U.K. Rumors of a pre-Christmas In London, U.K. Cabinet tariffs by both sides would
Customs checks and some had to trade with the EU on trade deal surfaced in re- minister Robert Jenrick said, add to other impediments
other barriers will be im- World Trade Organization cent days based on prog- "We will need to get those to trade.
posed under whatever cir- terms. ress on the outstanding is- final issues resolved, and The border is already reel-
cumstances on Jan. 1, but But his government has ac- sues beyond fishing. How- there's some way further ing from new restrictions
a trade deal would avert knowledged that a chaotic ever, some EU nations insist- to go on that." He said he placed on travelers from
the imposition of tariffs and exit is likely to bring gridlock ed that upon close scrutiny, nonetheless felt optimistic. Britain into France and
duties that could cost both at Britain's ports, temporary Britain's latest proposals on The EU has long feared that other EU countries due to
sides billions in trade and shortages of some goods quotas for EU vessels in U.K. Britain would undercut the a new coronavirus variant
hundreds of thousands of and price increases for sta- waters were far less concil- bloc's social, environmen- sweeping through London
jobs. Britain withdrew from ple foods. Tariffs will be ap- iatory than first met the eye. tal and state aid rules to be and southern England. q
EU to spend hundreds of millions more on refugees in Turkey

assistance to refugees in outside migrant camps. Turkish soldiers were killed
Turkey to meet their basic The European Union relies in fighting in northern Syria.
needs and the other that on Turkey to stop migrants President Recep Tayyip Er-
provides funds to help edu- and refugees from trying to dogan had sought Euro-
cate children. reach the bloc's 27 mem- pean help in northern Syria,
The programs will be ex- ber nations illegally. Well but the request was refused
tended until early 2022 at a over a million people en- and he accused the EU of
total cost of 485 million eu- tered the EU in 2015, over- reneging on its promises un-
ros ($590 million). whelming Greece and Italy der the 2016 deal.
The commission said they and sparking one of the EU leaders in turn accused
provide much-needed bloc's worst political crises. Erdogan of "blackmail" but
cash to more than 1.8 mil- In 2016, the EU offered Tur- then promised to review
lion refugees and help ed- key up to 6 billion euros the deal in an effort to end
ucate more than 700,000 ($7.3 billion) in aid for Syr- the chaos at Europe's bor-
children. The programs are ian refugees on its territory, ders.
managed by the Turkish fast-tracked EU member- According to the Europe-
In this Tuesday, March 10, 2020 file photo, migrants wait in line
for a distribution of blankets close to the Turkish-Greek border Red Crescent in partner- ship and visa-free travel to an Commission, all 6 billion
near Pazarkule, Edirne region, Turkey. ship with the Red Cross and Europe for Turkish citizens euros under the EU-Turkey
Associated Press UNICEF. Money does not if Turkey stopped migrants deal has been "committed
go directly to Turkey's gov- from trying to depart for Eu- and contracted, with close
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- fled the war in Syria. ernment. rope. The number of arrivals to 4 billion euros disbursed."
pean Union plans to spend The EU's executive body, Turkey is home to almost dropped dramatically. Part of the money, 2.4 bil-
hundreds of millions of eu- the European Commission, 4 million refugees. Around But in March, Turkish author- lion euros, was earmarked
ros over the next year help- said Wednesday that it is 70% are women and chil- ities began waving thou- for humanitarian assistance
ing refugees living in Turkey, extending two programs, dren, and the overwhelm- sands of migrants through and has been contracted
most of them people who one that provides cash ing majority of refugees live to Europe after dozens of out.q