Boris Johnson’s Europe adviser Lord Frost will speak to the European Union’s Michel Barnier again on Tuesday as efforts continue to revive trade talks.
Official trade talks remain in limbo, however, the dialogue has once again started.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “What the UK’s chief negotiator needs to see is a clear assurance from the EU that it has made a fundamental change in approach to the talks and that this is going to be a genuine negotiation rather than one side being expected to make all of the moves.”
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Ahead of the talks, both the EU and UK will need to compromise to reach a Brexit deal, Brussels has said.
European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer told reporters in Brussels: “I think it is pretty obvious that in order to come to an agreement both sides need to meet and this is also obviously the case in this negotiation.”
A spokesman also confirmed that Mr Barnier and Lord Frost would speak on Tuesday afternoon.
EU negotiator Michel Barnier said he has spoken to UK counterpart Lord Frost.
“My message: we should be making the most out of the little time left,” he said.
“Our door remains open.”
A Number 10 spokesman said: “Lord Frost and Michel Barnier had a constructive discussion.
“The situation remained as yesterday, and they will remain in contact.”
It comes after the Government rebuffed a fresh attempt by the EU to restart the negotiations on a post-Brexit free trade deal agreement after they were abruptly halted by Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister and Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, were expected to hold a conference call with business chiefs on Tuesday to urge them to prepare for leaving the single market and customs union at the end of the year.
With just 10 weeks until the transition finishes, Mr Johnson and Mr Gove will use the call to tell bosses they should be ready for major change regardless of whether there is a deal with Brussels.
Yesterday Mr Barnier appeared to hold out an olive branch, offering to intensify talks with negotiations based on legal texts – two key British demands.
Initially, the offer was welcomed in the Commons by Mr Gove as a “constructive move”.
But while No 10 acknowledged that there had been a “constructive discussion” between Mr Barnier and his UK counterpart Lord Frost, it said there was still no basis to resume negotiations.
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“The EU still needs to make a fundamental change in approach to the talks and make clear it has done so,” Lord Frost said.
The major stumbling blocks remain access for EU boats to UK fishing grounds and the “level playing field” rules to ensure fair competition – including any state subsidies that the Government might seek to give to UK firms.
Under the transition arrangements – which kicked in after the UK left the EU at the end of January – Britain has continued to enjoy full access to the single market and customs union, but that is due to end at the close of the year.
While Mr Gove acknowledged that leaving the transition period without a trade deal would cause “some turbulence”, he insisted there could be no going back.
Meanwhile, the Government has launched a “time is running out” campaign urging businesses to get ready for the end of the transition period on December 31, regardless of whether a trade deal is in place.
Business leaders, however, have urged both sides to compromise, warning a final no-deal break – with the imposition of tariffs, quotas and customs controls – would deliver another blow to an economy still reeling from the impact of the coronavirus.
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