Shropshire Star

Post-Brexit trade talks will shift to Brussels on Thursday

Michel Barnier and Lord Frost have been meeting in London since last week.

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Boris Johnson’s chief Europe negotiator David Frost (left) with his counterpart from the European Union Michel Barnier (Dati Bendo/EU/PA)

Talks with the European Union on a post-Brexit trade deal will take place in Brussels from Thursday.

The UK side led by Lord Frost and the EU’s team under Michel Barnier have been meeting in London since the process restarted last week

In a sign that enough progress is being made to at least allow talks to continue, the teams will move to the Belgian capital to continue their discussions.

European Commission spokesman Dan Ferrie told reporters: “I can confirm that negotiations are ongoing in London right now, they will run until tomorrow and then they will take place here in Brussels, as of Thursday.”

He would not be drawn on the status of the negotiations but said both sides are “engaging intensively” to reach a deal.

Detail on the buildings of the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium (John Walton/PA)
Detail on the buildings of the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium (John Walton/PA)

On Monday, Downing Street  warned “time is very short” to bridge the “significant” gaps between the UK and EU.

The current transition arrangements expire at the end of the year and a deal will need to be reached within weeks in order for it to be ratified by then.

The main obstacles to a deal have been rows over fishing rights,the so-called “level playing field” rules to ensure fair competition and governance arrangements for any agreement.

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