France Would Not Accept a Brexit Deal at Any Price, European Affairs Minister Says

Earlier, the minister said that the European Union and the UK must hammer out an agreement defining their post-Brexit relationship by early November.

France wants a Brexit deal but will not accept it at any price, European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune said, as quoted by Reuters.

The minister also said that fishing must be part of any Brexit deal.

Speaking with FranceInfo radio on Sunday, Beaune stressed that the EU bloc would not accept a "bad deal" just to avoid a no-deal scenario.

On 10 October, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed on the phone the continuing talks on a post-Brexit trade deal, with Johnson reiterating that he was determined to explore "every avenue" to achieve the deal. He added, however, that the UK was ready to end the transition period on Australia-style conditions if an agreement is not achieved.

A fishing boat at work in the English Channel, off the southern coast of England, Saturday Feb. 1, 2020

© AP Photo / Gareth Fuller

The UK and EU have encountered certain stumbling blocks while negotiating the terms of post-Brexit trade deal. For example, the EU expects its boats to have access to UK fishing waters and London says these waters must be kept for British boats "first and foremost". Other differences focus on the issue of governance, and the so-called level playing field - a set of common rules and standards that prevent businesses in one country from gaining a competitive advantage over rivals in other countries.

If no trade deal is reached before the transition period ends on 31 December, the World Trade Organisation's rules for both sides will take effect from the start of 2021.