BREXIT TALKS ARE ON AGAIN
Breakthrough as trade deal is ‘within reach’
EU negotiator Michel Barnier will return to London to restart Brexit talks with the UK today, paving the way for a trade deal.
Downing Street said there had been a “fundamental change in approach” from the EU that meant formal negotiations could resume.
The two sides broke the stalemate just days after Boris Johnson had said talks were over and warned the UK to prepare for a no-deal departure.
The shift came after Mr Barnier told MEPs: “Despite the difficulties we’ve faced, an agreement is within reach if both sides are willing to work constructively, if they are willing to compromise.”
He pledged to work “day and night” to overcome sticking points but warned that preparations must be made for a no-deal in case talks failed.
After the PM’s chief Brexit aide Lord
Frost spoke to Mr
Barnier by phone, No1 No10 agreed to continue. A No10 spo spokesman said the Government n now believes the EU is “ser “serious about talking intensively, intensi on all issues and bringing bringi the negotiation tiation to a conc conclusion”. The sticking p points remain “level playing fiel field” measures to prevent preve unfair comp competition, fisheries erie and the
Lord Frost governance of any deal. Mr Barnier told the European Parliament: “We will seek the necessary compromises on both sides in order to do our utmost to reach an agreement.”
But the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stressed the UK could not have its “cake and eat it too” and had “a big decision to make” about the future relationship.