EU laments Brexit progress amid divorce bill deadlock
BRUSSELS — Brexit talks have made little progress, the European Union’s chief negotiator said Thursday, meaning they cannot yet be broadened beyond the terms of Britain’s exit to include key issues like future trade relations.
Michel Barnier said that despite the “constructive spirit” shown in this week’s fifth round of talks, “we haven’t made any great steps forward.” On the question of how much Britain has to pay to settle its financial commitments, he said: “We have reached a state of deadlock, which is disturbing.”
Barnier said he would not be able to recommend to EU leaders meeting next week that “sufficient progress” has been made to broaden the talks to future EU-British relations, including trade.
The leaders meet in Brussels on Oct. 19-20, and with time short to seal a deal it had been hoped they would agree to widen the talks.