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In a further blow to the Brussels diplomat, member states said that after “sub-zero progress” it was too early for governments to step in and bail out future relations negotiations with Britain. EU diplomats are bracing for next week’s dispute over breaking a free trade deal when Barnier meets with his British counterpart, David Frost, in London next week. But capitals have insisted that prime ministers and presidents will not intervene until the last minute to save the process.
The rejection comes after Barnier urged European governments to play an active role in convincing Boris Johnson to soften his focus on the dispute over fisheries and state subsidies.
An EU diplomat said: “In July, Boris Johnson promised to put a ‘tiger in the tank'”, but that is getting nowhere, so there is no point in involving the leaders.
“Let’s give the negotiators a serious opportunity to work and wait until October to see where we are.”
In a private meeting of high-level diplomats, Barnier expressed concern that the talks could not move forward without a compromise on access to fishing grounds and Britain’s industrial policy.
The Frenchman said negotiations will not advance before the government publishes its post-Brexit state aid plans.
European Council President Charles Michel has told member states that Brexit will be removed from the agenda at this month’s leaders’ summit.
“Brexit will not be on the agenda of the September European Council because there is nothing to talk about,” said a source briefed on the talks.
“The last week of next month is when we approach the decisive moment, if we do not progress by the end of October it will be very difficult.
“If by October we are not clear about the direction of the trip, it will be very clear that we will need another high-level push, but the next summit will be to declare no agreement.”
Michel previously claimed that UK negotiators needed to “clarify” their demands.
The President of the EU Council said: “Sooner or later the UK should clarify what it wants. It is not possible to leave the European club and at the same time keep all the benefits.
“The UK should clarify its position. For us, a level playing field is key and essential.
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Speaking ahead of the next round of talks, the prime minister’s chief negotiator said the EU would have to change its approach to reach a deal.
Lord Frost said: “We have scheduled a lot of time for discussions, as we should at this point in the talks.
“However, the EU still insists that we change our positions on state aid and fisheries if we want there to be substantive textual discussions on anything else.
“From the beginning we have been clear about what we can accept in these areas, which are fundamental to our condition as an independent country. We will negotiate constructively, but the EU position can realistically limit the progress we can make next week. “
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