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Boris Johnson’s official spokesman warned that there is “little time” to reach a post-Brexit trade deal, as the prime minister’s deadline to close a deal tomorrow looms. But the EU’s top Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, appeared to reject Johnson’s October 15 deadline when he promised to work on a trade deal over the “next days and weeks.”
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Despite Johnson’s demands to seal a deal tomorrow before the EU summit, Express.co.uk understands that talks will move forward in the next few weeks before November 3, when a legal text should be ratified.
Barnier and the UK’s top Brexit negotiator David First could announce a “deal in principle or a path to a deal” on Thursday and will continue talks until legal text is drawn up.
It comes after Johnson said the UK “shouldn’t be afraid” about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.
Downing Street said Johnson had told his cabinet that trade negotiations with the EU are at “a crucial stage” but believes that an agreement can still be reached.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister also updated the cabinet on the negotiations with the EU, which he said are at a crucial stage ahead of this week’s European Council.”
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He added: “We need to provide clarity in the middle of this month.”
It comes as leaked European Council conclusions revealed that the Brussels bloc will step up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit.
EU members say there is a “concern that progress on key issues of concern to the Union is not yet sufficient to reach an agreement.”
In a draft version of an EU leadership statement, they say: “The European Council reaffirmed the Union’s determination to have as close a partnership as possible with the UK on the basis of the February 29 negotiating directives. 2020.
“In this context, the European Council invited the main negotiator of the Union to intensify the negotiations with the aim of ensuring that an agreement can be implemented from 1 January 2021.”
Meanwhile, Johnson is preparing to discuss progress with Ursula von der Leyen today ahead of Thursday’s EU leaders’ summit.
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