Barniers statement after R5

EU Lead negotiator Michel Barnier issues a press statement after the round 5 negotiations of the EU-UK Future Relations talks concluded in London today.

Barnier said: ”This week, we have had useful discussions on some issues in goods and services. But these negotiations are complex and require us to make progress across all areas. And we are still far away. This week, discussions took place in a positive atmosphere, and I want to thank David Frost and his team, as well as the EU team, for their professional approach. It has allowed us to make some progress: We had useful discussions to narrow our divergences in the areas of social security coordination and Union programmes.
We made progress towards the objective of a comprehensive and single institutional framework, which must include robust enforcement mechanisms. And we had good discussions on police and judicial cooperation, even if divergences remain”.

He added: ”We respect the UK government’s political choice and we are ready to work on solutions. But the EU cannot and will not accept to foot the bill for the UK’s political choices. And let me be very clear: A less ambitious agreement on goods and services will not lead the EU to drop its demands for a robust level playing field”.

To read the press statement, click here: Press statement by Michel Barnier following Round 6 of the negotiations for a new partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom