MNI SOURCES: Any Brexit Deal To Skip EU National Parliaments

With the Dec. 31 end of the UK's transition period for leaving the EU so close, any last-minute post-Brexit trade deal is now likely to have to be approved on a provisional basis and only be ratified later, an EU source told MNI.

Legal obstacles to provisional approval contained in the UK's withdrawal agreement would be overcome if necessary, the source indicated, adding that ratification by the European parliament and national leaders would be sufficient for a post-Brexit trade deal in the event that the EU and the UK manage to reach agreement before their Sunday deadline.

Negotiators continue to tussle on the main sticking points, the official said, including the "three heads of the Level Playing Field beast" – a promise not to regress from existing EU competition standards, how to respond when EU rules change, and how to enforce any agreement.

REAL DEADLINE

"Ratification happens via Council and EP, and not national parliaments, (there is) not enough time," the source said, adding that member states are putting pressure on negotiators to reach agreement quickly if they can.

But a breakthrough is still not close, the source said, adding "The clock is ticking and path to get a deal is narrowing."

Another EU diplomatic source, though, said that negotiations could continue past Sunday despite the deadline agreed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The real deadline remains Dec. 31, the source said.