Transition deal ‘not a given’, Barnier warns

Agreement on a transition period to smooth Britain’s exit from the EU is “not a given”, Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator has warned.

After the latest round of talks between officials in Brussels, Michel Barnier said three “substantial” disagreements remained over the transition, expected to last around two years after withdrawal in March 2019.

Declaring himself “surprised” by the UK stance, Mr Barnier said Britain had to accept the “ineluctable consequences” of its own decision to quit the EU.

The atmosphere has soured since Brussels published a position paper which included a plan to restrict access to the single market if the UK fails to comply with the terms of the transition.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said it was “surprising” that Mr Barnier did not understand the UK’S position and accused Brussels of having a “fundamental contradiction” in its approach to transition.

After the latest round of talks between officials in Brussels, Mr Barnier told reporters that stumbling blocks remained.

He said: “To be quite frank, if these disagreements persist, the transition is not a given. Time is short - very short - and we haven’t a minute to lose if we want to succeed.”

Mr Barnier also warned that checks at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic would be “unavoidable” under Theresa May’s plans for the UK to leave the single market and customs union.

He confirmed that Brussels was drawing up a legal definition of the regulatory alignment that must continue between Northern Ireland and the EU to avoid the creation of a hard border. In a statement, Mr Davis said Brussels was trying to “have it both ways” over the transition by setting up a dispute resolution mechanism but dismissing a UK push for safeguards.

“Given the intense work that has taken place this week it is surprising to hear that Michel Barnier is unclear on the UK’S position in relation to the implementation period,” he said.