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The meeting was announced when insiders said that negotiations on the future relationship pact are “completely stalled.” But British officials insisted they would not give in to demands for near-equal access for EU vessels to the country’s waters. Barnier is expected to warn ministers that Downing Street is refusing to abandon its demands for full control over UK fishing grounds and a significant increase in quotas.
He believes a concession in fishing could pave the way for No. 10 to offer more generous terms in the showdown over state aid rules.
A source told Express.co.uk: “That is the price the UK has to pay for a level playing field compromise.”
Mr Barnier will also brief the EU27 ambassadors on the situation before a decisive weekend of negotiations.
Sources on both sides have affirmed that they are still “very separated” in the matter of fishing and the negotiators have not obtained new advances.
A source said: “There are no new details and the negotiations are completely stalled.”
But Barnier is still hopeful that a deal can be reached if his British counterpart Lord Frost agrees to a last-minute compromise between the fisheries and the bloc’s demands for a level playing field.
Under the plan, Britain would ensure full control of its coastal waters and a big boost for its fishermen, but would adhere to strict competition rules set by Brussels.
Eurocrats warned that if an agreement is not reached by next Wednesday, the European Parliament will not be able to ratify it in full before the end of the year.
British officials downplayed the chances of an immediate breakthrough, insisting that they would no longer fulfill Downing Street’s promise to regain control of our laws, borders and coastal waters.
A UK source said: “We have been clear all along about our fundamental principles and we are working hard to find an agreement that complies with them.”
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