Low expectations for latest Brexit talks

The European Union and Britain clashed yesterday after British prime minister Theresa May said the ball was in the EU’s court as Brexit negotiations entered a critical fifth round.

Officials from both sides are meeting in Brussels, but chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart, David Davis, are not attending the start, underscoring low expectations for the talks.

This round of divorce discussions is the last before European leaders meet at a summit on October 19 to decide whether there is “sufficient progress” to move on to the trade talks that Britain wants.

The European Commission rejected Mrs May’s assertion that it was up to the EU to take the initiative to advance the stalled talks, amid fears that her domestic political woes were threatening the negotiations.

“This is not exactly a ball game ... but what I can remind you of is there is a clear sequencing to these talks and there has been so far no solution found on step one, which is the divorce proceedings,” the commission’s chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, said.

“So the ball is entirely in the UK court for the rest to happen.”

Brussels is alarmed by the leadership crisis engulfing the British prime minister, who is facing a plot to oust her after the Conservative party’s annual conference last week.

“As we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response,” Mrs May was expected to say in a speech yesterday. “I believe we can prove the doomsayers wrong.”

Mr Barnier and Mr Davis are expected to give a press conference on Thursday after four days of talks, although officials said that was yet to be confirmed.

The talks have stalled on all three of the key divorce issues – the exit bill Britain must pay to leave the bloc; the rights of EU citizens remaining in Britain; and the fate of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.