Brexit talks near climax

European doubts over a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain boiled over yesterday, with France threatening a veto even as intense negotiations entered what could be their final hours. 

EU and UK negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost were locked in last-minute debates over fishing rights, fair trade rules and an enforcement mechanism to govern any deal.

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But with time running out if the eventual accord is to be ratified before the end of the year and Britain's departure from the EU single market, EU capitals are getting cold feet.

"If there's a deal that isn't a good one, we'd oppose it," France's minister for European affairs Clement Beaune told Europe 1 radio, adding that "every country has the right to veto".

A European diplomat told AFP that Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark share France's concerns that in the rush to conclude a deal, Barnier will give too much ground to London on rules to maintain fair competition.

"We don't want to lock in an unbalanced relationship for decades to come," he said.

Thus far, the capitals have remained united behind their champion Barnier, who has been battling Frost long into the night as UK premier Boris Johnson faces his own choice about whether to compromise.

"We are committed to reaching an agreement with the EU," UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma told the BBC. "But, of course, time is short and we are in a difficult phase. There's no denying that."

British officials have complained that, with the negotiations coming to a conclusion, the EU has made new demands that London agree to set up an independent body to regulate state subsidies.

In Brussels, diplomatic sources told AFP that some capitals are concerned that Germany and the European Commission are too keen to agree a deal quickly. However, Germany later yesterday issued a statement saying that EU wanted a deal but "at any cost".

EU chief Charles Michel urged members to remain united behind Brussels' negotiators.

The UK left the European Union on January 31 and its post-Brexit transition period stretches until the end of this month, when it leaves the EU single market.