London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Senior MEPs threaten to veto unbalanced Brexit deal

Senior MEPs threaten to veto unbalanced Brexit deal

Luxembourgian MEP Christophe Hansen, who sits on the European Parliament’s international trade committee, has warned Michel Barnier that senior MEPs are ready to block a Brexit trade deal if it’s not “sufficiently balanced.”

Speaking as Brexit negotiations continue, Hansen said: “If there is a deal, I believe it will be sufficiently balanced that the European Parliament can give its consent. Otherwise, there will be no deal.”

Hansen’s fellow MEP and chair of the international trade committee Bernd Lange echoed the concerns. He warned that a deal needs to be urgently presented to member states – or risk making the scrutiny and ratification process “a farce,” due to the limited time left before the Brexit transition period expires on December 31.


The remarks suggest concern among MEPs over the possibility that Barnier will make too many concessions in order to reach a deal with the UK, rather than allowing challenging trade restrictions to be imposed on both sides.


Negotiators for both the EU and UK are already under growing pressure to overcome the remaining barriers in the ongoing trade talks with sufficient time left for the European Parliament and all 27 member states to review and approve any agreement before the December 31 deadline.

Michel Barnier has been holding intense online negotiations with the UK’s lead negotiator Lord David Frost, as both sides have been temporarily unable to meet face-to-face due to coronavirus concerns.

In a bid to get a deal over the line, British media has reported Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen are set to speak directly this week to address the current blockages.

The biggest stalemate remains over the issue of fisheries, with Hansen calling for there to be compromises in order to secure a mutually agreeable deal, while Downing Street has refused to budge on the prospect of allowing EU vessels continued access to its waters.

The European Parliament has set a new deadline of next Tuesday to allow a new relationship to be formally agreed by December 28, three days before the UK would crash out of the Single Market and Customs Union.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×