Picture copyright EPA There stay "cr
Picture copyright
EPA
There stay “critical” variations between the UK and EU after the primary spherical of commerce talks, the bloc’s chief negotiator has stated.
Michel Barnier stated “very troublesome” areas wanted to be resolved, however an settlement earlier than December’s deadline was doable.
He stated there have been disagreements over competitors guidelines, police co-operation, and the way a deal could be enforced.
He additionally dismissed UK proposals on fishing as “impractical”.
Talking to reporters in Brussels on the finish of this week’s first spherical of commerce negotiations, he stated factors of distinction had “come as no shock”.
Talks will transfer to London subsequent month for the second spherical. Each side set out their respective positions in opposing technique paperwork final month.
The UK has warned it’s going to stroll away from commerce talks in June, when each side are resulting from assessment progress, except there’s a “broad define” of a deal.
The post-Brexit transition interval, below which the UK will proceed to observe EU guidelines, will finish in December and PM Boris Johnson has vowed to not lengthen it.
Mr Barnier warned the UK towards under-estimating the challenges posed by the top of the transition, which he stated could be “very totally different” to these which accompanied the UK’s exit from the bloc on the finish of January.