Brussels: Brexit trade talks scheduled to be held in London from March 18 to March 20 next week have been cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, a joint EU-UK statement said Thursday.
“Given the latest COVID-19 developments, European Union (EU) and UK negotiators have today jointly decided not to hold next week’s round of negotiations in London,” the statement said. “Both sides are currently exploring alternative ways to continue discussions, including if possible the use of videoconferences,” it added.
Around 100 European negotiators were due to travel to the United Kingdom from next Tuesday, where 590 cases of coronavirus have been officially registered. But according to the UK government, the number of infected people is probably between 5,000 and 10,000.
More than 20,000 people have been infected in Europe with the new coronavirus and 930 have died.
Following the first round of negotiations in early March, the UK and the EU acknowledged major differences of opinion. Meanwhile, the European Commission, the EU’s vast executive arm, ordered non-essential staff to work from home starting Monday.
“As much as it can affect our daily life, it is necessary to follow the experts’ advice and apply social distancing measures at work,” commission head Ursula von der Leyen said in a note to staff. “As of Monday, all colleagues in non-critical functions will have to telework,” she added.
The situation was made more pressing after the European Schools here, where EU officials and diplomats send their children, closed until the end of the month, according to a letter sent to parents.
AFP