The report given by Michel Barnier on 4 November to the national ambassadors to the EU after two weeks of intensive discussions with London was not very positive, a source reported at the end of the meeting.
The EU negotiator on the future relationship with the United Kingdom himself reported on Twitter that “despite EU efforts to find solutions, wide divergences remain on fair competition standards, governance and fisheries. These are essential conditions for any economic partnership”.
The negotiator, who had not spoken on the subject on 21 October, in fact confirmed the continuing difficulties and denied any breakthrough on fisheries, which had been mentioned in some press articles over the weekend.
Wishing to remain optimistic, he did not hide the fact that there was a risk that the two sides might not reach an agreement, as Michel Barnier had, among other things, suggested that London lacked the will to bring the talks to a successful conclusion.
The negotiator is expected to have a telephone contact this Friday with his British counterpart, David Frost, to take stock of the next steps in the talks. Negotiators should then, in theory, continue discussions next week in London, perhaps as early as Sunday.
For his part, David Frost confirmed Michel Barnier’s observation, also acknowledging on Twitter that “wide divergences remain on some key issues”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)