There is a landing zone for a deal. That is what I hear from multiple sources.
Negotiators are exploring the idea of review clauses to break the deadlock in EU-UK trade talks, with the possibility that parts of the deal could be revisited several years after they take effect.
EU diplomats said the two sides are discussing whether review clauses and transitional arrangements have the potential to ease the pain of compromises needed to get an agreement done — but warned that both sides still have very different views of how this might work.
Brexit talks are continuing virtually this week after a member of the EU negotiating team tested positive for Covid-19 — the positive case forced EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and senior members of his team to go into self isolation on Thursday.
You can read the article here: EU and UK negotiators turn to review clauses in bid to unlock deal
Source: FT
The Weekend long-read from Connely. A good summary though there are some gaps despite the long text – and that I am a bit more optimistic.
As we hurtle towards 31 December the scramble for a deal is forcing both sides to get creative in the hope that they do not need to get desperate.
The EU and UK are attempting to conclude perhaps the most important treaty they will sign this century; creativity and law are not always the best of bedfellows and there may only be so much that can be done under the covers.
Both sides are still miles apart on the big issues: the level playing field, governance and fisheries.
Read it here: Final throes of Brexit legal fixes and hardball tactics
Source: RTE
The value of Irish goods exports has risen by 8 per cent to €122 billion so far this year.
The strong performance, detailed in the latest trade figures, was driven by exports of medical and pharmaceutical products, which have surged as a result of the pandemic.
The Central Statistics Office figures show the value of goods exports for the nine-month period from January to September was €122.36 billion, an increase of €8.6 billion (8 per cent) on the same period last year.
Exports for the month of September fell by 5 per cent to €13.7 billion while imports fell by 8 per cent to €6.2 billion.
This resulted in a seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €7.5 billion million in September.
Source: TheIrishTimes