As expected a downbeat readout by Barnier of progress on UK-EU future relationship. This point on level playing field needs to be stressed particularly - because the UK position is simply out of step with recent trade policy developments.
No surprise Northern Ireland was mentioned again. Expert opinion is divided on whether the UK government knows what it signed up to and is denying it, or doesn't even know. Either way a crucial issue for both EU and US trade deals.
Is the UK strategy the belief that we'll get a deal because we're willing to walk away without one? To walk away in June? To sign something in September / October and claim victory? All far from clear and needs to be discussed (but bigger issues....)
Meanwhile could someone ask Barnier whether he has any agreements in mind that have been completed in this time period? Since they seem to have escaped my mind / media spotlight etc. This of course being the 'not our fault' line...
Why it is ridiculous to even be having these trade talks right now - because there are so many issues to be discussed coming out of each round. With business, parliament, devolved administrations etc. But no bandwidth to have those discussions.
The June deadline for fishing was jointly agreed. As was the December end of transition period. The UK have unrealistically said no extension, but the EU is not innocent in this question
Playing to the domestic gallery. This is meaningless in trade negotiation terms. Trade policy evolves. And the EU never negotiated this deal with the UK before. And vice versa.
Two useful threads on different aspects of UK-EU relations, first...
And this... (NB I don't necessarily agree with all of this or the previous thread, just as they won't necessarily agree with all my views!)
The timescale is abnormal, not that limited progress was made in the second round (and that remotely) of talks.
A modicum of truth in this. But one wonders if the UK government have yet come to terms with Brexit, and the fact that countries trade their rights to make decisions in various ways for various reasons.
Sorry but this is depressing blame game nonsense from the UK government. Ok I'm obviously not the intended recipient, but neither are the businesses that are supposed to benefit from any deal.
And the old favourite of the divided EU... which is rarely good news for the country the EU is negotiating with.
A political agreement doesn't resolve 1500 pages of small print.
Simply wrong. How would no deal in December help provide certainty when it would inevitably be followed by short-term measures, inevitable further talks, and regular changes of one sort or other?
And I think that does me for the working week. Only so much UK-EU trade talks nonsense any of you should be expected to put up with in a day.
Until tomorrow morning's surely inevitable @tconnellyRTE blockbuster, beer instead of Brexit...
Until tomorrow morning's surely inevitable @tconnellyRTE blockbuster, beer instead of Brexit...
Late PS those interested in UK-EU talks will already have seen this from the UK chief negotiator. Standard start of negotiation stuff, he's hardly likely to say we're giving in on everything. The timetable though is not normal... more next week... 
