Differences in fishing and equal conditions remain significant.
Barnier is neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but he is determined to reach an agreement
Hopes of an agreement with Brexit by next month were raised 50/50 yesterday, with the number 10 saying the EU was "more constructive" but had not yet filled significant gaps. An agreement or no agreement is still possible before the European Council summit in mid-October, UK authorities said.
They warned that there was still no agreement on key fisheries issues and 'level playing field' rules in areas such as competition and state aid. Negotiations between the two sides have been stalled for months because of differences on key issues.
Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, returned to Brussels from London yesterday after another round of informal negotiations ended without progress. EU diplomats also suggested that significant progress still needs to be made. Relations between Britain and the bloc have plummeted in recent weeks after Johnson published plans to annul parts of the Brexit divorce settlement, but tensions seem to be easing.
However, European Council President Charles Michel suggested that the EU would not give in yesterday in his speech to the UN General Assembly.
Yesterday, EU diplomats said the UK needed to provide "more detailed and concrete proposals" on the main points of conflict.
