By Ben Kerrigan-
Michael Barner, the EU’s chief negotiator, has said that there is a disturbing deadlock over how much the UK pays when it leaves the EU.
He acknowledged ”new momentum” had been gathered in the process but said insufficient progress has been made to move to the next stage of Brexit talks .
Brexit Secretary David Davis continued to express optimism for the go-ahead for trade talks when EU leaders meet next week. However, mr. Barnier expressed pessimism regarding Davis expectations for talks next week after the fifth round .
Mr Barnier said: “I am not able in the current circumstances to propose next week to the European Council that we should start discussions on the future relationship.”
Davis wants Mr Barnier to be mandated by EU leaders to start trade talks and “build on the spirit of cooperation” which he says they now have”. The UK Brexit Secretary said there had been progress on the area of citizens’ rights that had moved the two sides “even closer to a deal”.
Mr Barnier added that he hoped for “decisive progress” by the time of the December summit of the European Council.
He said Theresa May’s announcement that Britain would honour financial commitments entered into as an EU member was “important”.
However, Barnier said there had been no negotiations on the issue this week because the UK was not ready to spell out what it would pay.
“On this question we have reached a state of deadlock which is very disturbing for thousands of project promoters in Europe and it’s disturbing also for taxpayers.”
Barnier’s take on developments is equally disturbing because it suggests that the divorce bill remains very much an unsettled issue , despite Theresa May promising last month to settle that with a huge payment. The question of divorce bill payments should not continue to be a stumbling block because the basis for any amount expected should be straightforward to demonstrate. Instead, the EU and the Uk keep going back and forth on the matter of the divorce bill among other issues hindering the progress of The EU. Both sides cannot continue to be in dispute over fundamental issues of the Brexit process. Issues of disagreement should be properly examined and the party claiming to be on the right side has to be able to clearly show why the other party is wrong in their position.
We are talking of world leaders here, politicians with enough understanding and education to make their case clear enough for the other to see, understand, and provide a response that can be analysed in light of the facts.