News analysis

Talks begin with aim to avert collapse of trust between Britain and EU

EU officials threaten legal action over Britain's plans to violate treaty that governs its future relationship with bloc

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Senior officials from the European Union are in London for emergency talks designed to avert a catastrophic collapse in trust between Britain and the EU, after the British government announced plans to violate a treaty governing relations between Britain and Europe.

European negotiators still hope to avoid a major showdown. The British threat to ignore treaty obligations only kicks in should London and the continent fail to reach a broader agreement about their trade relations by the end of this year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 11, 2020, with the headline Talks begin with aim to avert collapse of trust between Britain and EU. Subscribe