Barnier rejects transition extension – even if free trade deal agreed

Trade adviser, Shanker Singham, had claimed today an implementation period could be used following the end of the transition. This would allow both sides the needed time to implement elements of the Brexit deal.

In response, however, the EU said: “The transition period ends on 31 December. It cannot be extended.” Speaking to the Westminster’s Future Relationship with the European Union Committee, Mr Singham said: “If a political deal is done by even the end of the year, no lawyer in the Commission , or no legal process, is going to get in the way of finding a solution. “The issue is whether a political deal can be done in the time, then there can be implementation periods and specific periods to cover ratification, but no one is going to talk about this right now because we are still in a negotiation.”

In a comment Michael Barnier has rejected any possibility of the UK extending the transition period past the end of the year.

Source:TheDailyExpress