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EU diplomats and officials are working on the assumption the Prime Minister will eventually U-turn on his pledge to leave the bloc’s single market and customs union by the end of the year. Face-to-face negotiations were suspended last week after just one round, after it emerged both sides’chief negotiators, David Frost and Michel Barnier, were in self-isolation. And as the global pandemic continues to spread at an alarming rate, the UK and EU have focused their efforts on bringing the disease back under control.

European sources have claimed the bandwidth simply doesn’t exist to conduct trade talks and deal with the political and economic fallout sparked by the coronavirus crisis. One senior EU diplomat said: “Depending on how coronavirus evolves, we might run into problems with how to deal with the negotiations with the UK. “We have already said it would be a tight schedule to get everything done within one year, and now negotiations are formally ongoing but very difficult to do, I think that only strengthens the argument that many of us had that we need more than one year.” Brussels is even ready to consider offering Mr Johnson the opportunity to present any one-off extension beyond December 31 as a victory in order to help the Prime Minister sell the delay domestically.

EU chiefs expect Boris Johnson to delay Brexit due to the coronavirus crisis

Boris Johnson has vowed not to extend the transition period beyond December 31

However, any delay would see a tense negotiation over the money Britain would be made to inject into the bloc’s budget. European capitals would also seek to make these talks “manageable” for Mr Johnson in a bid to get a deal over the line, according to one EU source. The Prime Minister has publicly denied that he is ready to remain under the EU’s rulebook beyond the end of the year even with the coronavirus halting negotiations.

Michel Barnier has tested positive for coronavirus while David Frost self-isolated with mild sympto

After last week’s negotiations were cancelled, a UK Government spokesman said: “The transition period ends on December 31, 2020. This is enshrined in UK law.” But one EU ambassador hinted Mr Johnson’s next move could reveal the type of deal with Brussels he was really seeking. They said: “If they don’t want an extension, they really want a hard Brexit on December 31.” MUST READ: Brexit betrayal: Norway treated with ‘goodwill’ as UK faces pushback

Last week's Brexit trade talks were called off to help curb the spread of coronavirus

The UK and EU must make a decision on whether to extend the transition period by June 31, they can choose between a one-off delay of one or two years. Mr Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement with Brussels allows for the Joint Committee, on which Cabinet Minister Michael Gove will represent the Government, to hold talks via video link. The divorce deal states: “The co-chairs may decide that a meeting of the Joint Committee be held by videoconference or teleconference.” DON'T MISS

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