UK ‘brinkmanship’ risks ending chances of Brexit deal, Barnier claims
Government’s down-to-the-wire negotiating strategy dubbed 'a recipe for disaster'
Britain’s brinkmanship in negotiations could pave the way to a no-deal Brexit, the European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned.
Speaking to national ambassadors in Brussels, Barnier said that “very serious divergences” remain between the EU and UK’s positions on fisheries, governance and trade, Reuters says.
An unnamed EU diplomat told the news agency that “the UK does not seem to be engaging sufficiently on key issues... given this situation a no-deal outcome still can’t be excluded”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The EU fears Lord David Frost, Barnier’s British counterpart, is “keeping the most politically sensitive dossiers” of the talks “open to create leverage”, The Times reports.
Negotiations resume in London on Sunday, with Johnson and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen expected to meet for crunch talks if an agreement is not reached by the end of next week.
Ratifying any deal could take up to six weeks, so both sides are keen to agree terms by November 16 in order to honour the December 31 deadline. However, according to the Financial Times, Barnier told MEPs in a separate meeting this week that the two parties are not “on a trajectory for a deal”.
Barnier cited the unwillingness of British negotiators to budge on topics like “non-regression” from labour and environmental standards, viewed by insiders as one of the easier level-playing-field issues, the FT adds.
In a tweet, Frost yesterday said: “Progress made, but I agree with Michel Barnier that wide divergences remain on some core issues. We continue to work to find solutions that fully respect UK sovereignty.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Antony Gormley's Time Horizon – a 'judgmental army' of 100 cast-iron men
The Week Recommends Sculptures are 'everymen questioning the privilege of their surroundings' at the Norfolk stately home
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'King's horses take free rein through London'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is pop music now too reliant on gossip?
Talking Point Taylor Swift's new album has prompted a flurry of speculation over who she is referring to in her songs
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How green onions could swing South Korea's election
The Explainer Country's president has fallen foul of the oldest trick in the campaign book, not knowing the price of groceries
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published