New: @MichelBarnier has given a "very downbeat" briefing to EU ambassadors on the state of play in the Brexit negotiations, @rtenews understands
2/ While there has been good progress on police and judicial cooperation, there has been no progress at all on the level playing field, fisheries and governance.
3/ In some of these areas Mr Barnier told diplomats that the UK had gone backwards on earlier understandings, such as the idea of a robust independent competition authority in the UK
4/ Mr Barnier was also adamant that on fisheries the EU wd expect reciprocal access to UK waters and a continuation of quota shares - ie, he was said to be highly irritated by press reports that the EU wd be prepared to park the issue of quotas and concede on access for EU fleets
5/ He is also said to have emphasised that the fishing arrangement has to be on a "stable" basis and not on an annual negotiation, which has been a UK demand. He said there was "very little progress" on the fish talks
6/ Mr Barnier said there was "no progress" on LPF - esp on the idea of non regression, where he said the UK had resiled from promises on environment, labour conditions, climate, tax. "There have been absolutely no positive developments" says one source.
7/ It's understood Mr Barnier believes the UK is "too relaxed" about the time frame, ie not taking account of the European Parliament's timetable to ratify the treaty, once it's legally scrubbed and translated etc
8/ He is said to have told diplomats that next week will therefore be "decisive" and that if there is no progress on the key issues we will be in a serious situation
10/ A source has said that this could be the darkest moment of the process, and that it could presage some light. However, the belief is that the UK is pressing for a grand bargain at the end involving fish and the level playing field, and this worries Mr Barnier.
6/
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