EU fears delay in start of Brexit trade talks
Progress is difficult because Britain has no position on many issues, officials say
Brussels — Talks between Britain and the EU on their future relationship are now less likely to start in October, the EU’s top negotiator says, because of lack of progress on Brexit divorce issues so far. Michel Barnier, the EU’s top Brexit negotiator, on Wednesday briefed ambassadors from the 27 countries that will remain in the EU after Britain leaves in March 2019 on the outcome of the July round of the monthly divorce talks with London. Barnier said the likelihood of starting the future relationship talks in October appeared to be decreasing, said an EU official involved in the Brexit talks. The EU’s negotiator had hoped that sufficient progress on key issues — a financial settlement, citizens’ rights and a solution for a nonphysical border between Northern Ireland and Ireland — could be made by October. This would allow EU leaders to give their consent to starting talks with London on the main aspects of the relationship after Brexit — a discussion Britain says it is keen to st...
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