Michel Barnier, head of the European Commission, made the following statement:
- Recent talks on Brexit have been constructive but no big steps have been taken.
- The conditions for starting talks still remain on the ambitious partnership in the future.
- The UK says it will provide a simplified system for EU citizens to claim rights in the UK.
- The UK is still not ready to confirm Brexit bill payments and we are in an impasse on that.
- I can't ask the EU summit next week to open talks on the future relationship.
- We are not asking the United Kingdom to make concessions, and the negotiations will succeed only through joint solutions.
- I remain convinced that political will make us make great progress over the next two months.
- No agreement can be a very bad deal.
- I hope to get out of the current impasse based on Teresa May's speech in Florence.
- The EU is ready to face all possibilities.
