Barnier warns Britain he is 'quite far' from trade talks

Barnier warns Britain he is 'quite far' from trade talks



David Davis and Michel Barnier swapped barbs in Brussels today as the Brexit talks were left deadlocked after the third round of talks.

The Brexit Secretary and EU Chief Negotiator concluded the August round of negotiations with a frosty press conference that demonstrated little progress.

Mr Davis said he believed 'concrete' moves had been made on some issues but defended Britain's firm rebuttal of the EU's exit bill.

He said EU leaders had to give Mr Barnier more room to negotiate 'imaginative' solutions if the impasse was to be breached.

But in a withering response, Mr Barnier accused Britain of 'nostalgia', protested a lack of 'trust' on EU citizens living in Britain and warned he would never allow its single market to be watered down.

And he said he was 'quite far' from recommending to EU leaders they authorise trade talks - pointing out again that time was fast running out for a deal.



The EU agreed in March future UK-EU arrangements must not be discussed until Britain agrees an exit bill, rules on operating the Irish-UK border and reciprocal agreements for citizens after Brexit.

The deadlock makes it likely the next round of talks in September will be dominated by the same issues. European leaders are not due to gather until October.

At the end of the third round of talks:

Both sides are far apart on the Brexit bill. The EU used this week to outline demands reportedly running to £90billion but Britain challenged it line by line

Barnier warned there was still no 'trust' on sorting out citizens' rights - pointing out Brussels' fears had been heightened by the Home Office wrongly sending out deportation letters

But Davis was able to reveal agreement on continuing 'EHIC' rules that allow British and European citizens to use health services while travelling

The next round of talks in September are will now try to break the deadlock but will not be held before the next meeting of EU leaders

Labour's Sir Keir Starmer revealed his alarm at the two sides appearing to drift further apart as talks continue 



Standing beside Brexit Secretary David Davis at a tense press conference in Brussels, Mr Barnier said he respected the British decision to quit the EU and the single market but he warned he would not let the market be 'undermined by Brexit'.

Mr Barnier said it was 'impossible' for Britain to set its own standards for products and to expect them to be sold in the single market without EU oversight.

In his own statement, Mr Davis said there had been 'concrete progress' on a number of issues and insisted the British approach was 'bearing fruit'.

As the latest round of negotiations wrapped up in Brussels, Tony Blair visited to pay a regular visit to Commission President Jean Claude Juncker (pictured together today) 



Mr Davis said he remained dedicated to getting the 'best outcome for the people and business of the EU and United Kingdom'.

But he admitted there were still 'significant differences' on the crucial issue of Britain's exit bill - claiming the EU's demands had to be 'specified, they have got to be real'.

Mr Davis said Britain would only pay in 'accordance with law and in the spirit of the EU's continuing partnership with the EU'.

He insisted he had a duty to taxpayers to 'interrogate' the demand closely. 

And he complained: 'The UK's approach is substantially more flexible and pragmatic' than the Commission's'. 

In his opening speech, Mr Barnier warned that 'with every passing day we move closer to the date of Britain's departure from the EU'.

He said the week's talks had led to useful clarifications on border issues, how social security will work and outstanding cases on Brexit day.

But he warned: 'We did not get decisive progress on any of the principal subjects.'

He said the 'fundamental question' that needed to be answered will be whether Britain's departure is 'properly organised'.

The chief negotiator warned of 'consequences' if the negotiations fail.

Mr Barnier said: 'In the interests if the European continent we believe the best way is with agreement.'

He added: 'At the current state of progress we are quite far from being able to say sufficient progress has taken place, sufficient for me to recommend to the European council we engage in discussions on the future arrangements.' 

Mr Barnier warned: 'EU taxpayers should not pay at 27 for obligations undertaken at 28. In July, the UK recognised it had obligations beyond the Brexit date.

'But this week it explained its obligations would be limited to obligations before departure.' 

Answering questions, Mr Barnier denied being angry but said he was both 'impatient and determined' to make progress.

He said: 'If I do get angry it will be obvious.'