EU’S Barnier Confirms No-Deal Brexit, As of Now

EU chief Brexit negotiator Barnier

• We are still far away in negotiations with the UK
• There was no progress on level playing field, fisheries
• The past few weeks, UK has not shown readiness to find solutions
• We are still far away from a deal with the UK
• There is objective risk of a no-deal Brexit outcome
• We are willing to negotiate to the last moment
• Neither UK nor EU has considered abandoning talks

Senior UK official on Brexit

• This is a normal negotiation, progress so far as a genuine
• Expects talks to continue in 2nd half of August and into September
• There is no formal cut off date for talks
• Question now is whether EU can adapt its position
• Clear EU have understood presence of EC J in a deal is a nonstarter
• Puzzled by Barnier’s comments calling for UK to publish state aid policy
• We are equally close to breakthrough and breakdown in negotiations
• We have made big moves toward EU position on structure a possible agreement