Brexit: Michel Barnier ‘concerned’ after negotiations with UK

The European Union’s chief negotiator said the wrangling over the post-Brexit pact remained stuck because of disagreements over access to Britain’s fishing grounds and the so-called “level-playing field”. The Frenchman said: “We have very little time left to conclude the negotiations to ensure an agreement can enter into effect on January 1, 2021 – in four months and 10 days. We still have a few months left to find an agreement to find agreement on all issues under discussion to consolidate the text.” Mr Barnier accused the British of refusing to “move forward on issues of fundamental importance for the European Union despite the flexibility which we have shown over recent months”. The Brussels bureaucrat blamed Boris Johnson for the deadlock. He added: “Those who were hoping for negotiations to move on swiftly forward this week will have been disappointed. “Unfortunately I too have been frankly disappointed as well, I must say. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told us in June that he wished to speed up.” Mr Barnier refused to drop his demands a regulatory level-playing field that ties Britain to EU standards and a pact that guarantees the “long-term perspective for European fishermen”. He said: "Today, at this state, agreement between the UK and European Union seems unlikely. “I simply cannot understand why we are wasting valuable time.” After the talks, Mr Frost concluded an agreement “will not be easy to achieve”. The Brexit envoy said the EU is still insisting Britain must follow the bloc’s state aid rules after the end of the transition. He said: “We have just concluded the seventh round of negotiations with the EU. As I said last week, agreement is still possible, and it is still our goal, but it is clear that it will not be easy to achieve. Substantive work continues to be necessary across a range of different areas of potential UK-EU future cooperation if we are to deliver it.