British government says EU will delay ratification of post-Brexit deal

The European Union (EU) is preparing a request to extend the period of ratification of the post-Brexit agreement with the United Kingdom, which should be concluded by the end of February, the former British chief negotiator revealed yesterday.

David Frost, current adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to the European issues, during a hearing with a parliamentary committee of the House of Lords.

said, we have informally heard from the European Commission today that we are likely to receive a formal request to extend the two-month period that is in the Agreement for ratification on the EU side.

Finalized on 24 December 2020, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU has already been ratified by the British institutions, but has yet to be ratified by the European Parliament and is currently being applied on a provisional basis.

The Trade Agreement guarantees the mutual access of markets without quotas or customs fees in terms of goods, but it leaves out some service sectors such as finance.

Frost said, we are waiting to know what constitutes this request and how long they intend to extend this period. It is a little disappointing considering that we discussed this a month ago and the two month period is in the Agreement. It is surprising that the EU wants to change so soon, but we will see what can be done. I don't think there is any desire on our side to extend beyond what is necessary.

In late January, the European Parliament's (EP) correlator for the post-'Brexit 'ratification procedure, Christophe Hansen, suggested that the dispute over the status of the embassy of the 27 in London could affect the ratification process.

Christophe Hansen during a meeting of the EP International Trade Commission said, as the first diplomatic act in a new third country, I think it is pure stinginess. I do not want it to be negatively reflected in the ratification procedure and it would be good to see this issue resolved before the EP is called upon to deliver the final verdict on the agreement.

The British Government has refused to give the EU delegation in the United Kingdom the same status that it confers to diplomatic embassies of individual countries, but Frost assured that the European ambassador, Portuguese João Vale de Almeida, and other officials will have all necessary privileges and immunities to do their job.

On the other hand, he complained about Brussels for not having completed the accreditation process of the new British ambassador to the EU, Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, and that there are restrictions on access and activity of the diplomat, former number two in the negotiation team for the post-Brexit agreement.

Frost said, we are not putting any restrictions on the EU delegation in London, while in practice, they are limiting [British embassy] contacts at the political level. It is a pity and it is not necessary.

However, he also indicated that the discussions continue and said he was confident that the dispute will be overcome and that a practical solution will be reached.