Pay your bills before you leave, EU warns Britain

Accounts ‘must be settled’ says chief negotiator as big differences remain

Brussels has warned Brexit talks will stall unless Britain sets out details of its willingness to pay a divorce bill, after four days of negotiations broke up.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator insisted all accounts “must be settled” when the UK quits the bloc and said he was not ready to compromise in negotiations.

Michel Barnier said “fundamental” disagreements remain over citizens’ rights.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said talks had been “robust but constructive” and urged Brussels to show “flexibility”.

At a press conference in Brussels, Mr Barnier said: “There does remain one fundamental divergence on the way in which such rights would be guaranteed and on several other points, for example, the rights of future family members or the exports of certain social benefits.”

Further details about the UK’s willingness to pay a fee to Brussels will be required before talks can move on to a trade deal, Mr Barnier indicated.

He said the EU was not ready to compromise in the negotiations until the UK accepts its financial obligations.

He said: “I know one has to compromise in negotiations but we are not there yet.”

However, the UK is understood to think the EU team is being unclear on what it believes the legal obligations are over the divorce bill, with frustration on both sides.

Mr Barnier added: “An orderly withdrawal means accounts must be settled.

“We require this clarification on the financial settlement, on citizens’ rights, on Ireland and the other separation issues.”

Mr Davis struck a more optimistic tone, saying: “Overall I’m encouraged by the progress we have made on understanding each other’s positions.”

He said the talks had demonstrated the UK had made a “fair and serious offer” on citizens’ rights and there were “many concrete areas where we agree, as well as areas where there will be further discussion”.

On the financial settlement, Mr Davis said: “We both recognise the importance of sorting out the obligations we have to one another, both legally and in a spirit of mutual cooperation.

“We have had robust but constructive talks this week. Clearly there’s a lot left to talk about and further work before we can resolve this.”

Picture: Getty Images. Brexit Secretary David Davis, left, and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier explain their positions after four days of Brexit talks.