Barnier: ‘We cannot and will not accept this backtracking’
So what did EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier say at the end of the fourth round of post-Brexit trade deal talks?
He said there has been no real progress made, and that the UK team had continually sought “to distance themselves” from the political declaration already agreed by Boris Johnson.
Barnier also said “the door is still open” for the UK to seek an extension to the current transition period before the end of June to allow more time for discussions, but the PM has vowed not to extend this.
The EU’s negotiator told a Brussels press conference: “My responsibility is to speak the truth and to tell the truth this week there have been no significant areas of progress.”
He added: “I don’t think we can go on like this forever.”
On the key area of fisheries, he said the UK has “not shown any true will” to explore compromises.
And he said both sides were still “very far” from reaching agreement on the level playing field, nuclear safety and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding.”
“In all areas, the UK continues to backtrack under commitments undertaken in the political declaration, including on fisheries,” Barnier said.
“We cannot and will not accept this backtracking on the political declaration.”
