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EU Says Little Progress Made in Brexit Talks With Britain

by Associated Press

   BRUSSELS --

   The European Union's Brexit negotiator said Thursday that that little
   progress was made with the U.K. in a fifth round of talks on the
   country's departure from the EU in 2019, and that he cannot yet
   recommend broadening negotiations to include trade.
   Michel Barnier said that despite the "constructive spirit" shown in
   this week's negotiations in Brussels, "we haven't made any great steps
   forward." On the question of how much Britain has to pay to settle its
   financial commitments, he said: "We have reached a state of deadlock,
   which is disturbing."
   Barnier said he would not be able to recommend to EU leaders meeting
   next week that "sufficient progress'' has been made to broaden the
   talks to future EU-British relations like trade.
   The leaders meet in Brussels on Oct. 19-20, and it had been hoped they
   would agree to widen the talks.
   The EU says this can only happen when there has been progress on the
   issues of the financial settlement, the rights of citizens affected by
   Brexit and the status of the Northern Ireland-Ireland border.
   But Britain says these issues are closely intertwined with their future
   relations like trade and must be discussed together.
   "I hope the member states will see the progress we have made and take a
   step forward" next week, British Brexit envoy David Davis told
   reporters.
   "We would like them to give Michel the means to broaden the
   negotiations. It's up to them whether they do it. Clearly I think it's
   in the interests of the United Kingdom and the European Union that they
   do," Davis said.
   Barnier said the two sides would work to achieve "sufficient progress"
   in time for a subsequent meeting of EU leaders in December.
   Britain must leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but the negotiations must
   be completed within about a year to leave time for EU states' national
   parliaments to ratify the Brexit agreement.
   Barnier reaffirmed that parting with "no deal will be a very bad deal."
   "To be clear, on our side, we will be ready to face any eventualities,
   and all the eventualities," he said.