Michel Barnier demands more ‘clarity’ from UK as Brexit deadlock continues
2 min read
Michel Barnier has demanded that the Government provides more “clarity” on its Brexit plans as the deadlock between the EU and the UK continued.
Europe’s chief negotiator also warned that time is running out for a deal between the two sides to be struck.
Mr Barnier was speaking alongside Brexit Secretary David Davis as the fourth round of Brexit negotiations kicked off in Brussels.
Mr Davis warned that the EU had “no excuses for standing in the way of progress”.
The talks come just three days after Theresa May delivered a speech in Florence which was aimed at kickstarting the stalled talks.
Mr Barnier said the Prime Minister had shown “a constructive spirit”, but said the EU still needed answers on how Britain plans to deal with the issues of citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the Brexit divorce bill.
He said: “We do not need to remind ourselves that we are six months into the process. We are getting closer to the UK’s withdrawal and I think this moment should be a moment of clarity.”
But a grim-faced Mr Davis hit back by stating that Mrs May had shown the “leadership and flexibility needed to make a success of these negotiations”.
He said the UK “will honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership”.
“The UK is absolutely committed to work through the detail,” he said.
“We are laying out concrete proposals and there are no excuses for standing in the way of progress. It will take pragmatism on both sides to make headway and I hope we can achieve that this week.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
