The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator has said that there are still too many questions and too few answers in talks between the EU and Britain over the country's withdrawal from the bloc.
Speaking at an event in Brussels, Michel Barnier listed issues such as data protection, cooperation between police and judicial authorities and the governance of the withdrawal agreement as outstanding issues between the two parties.
"In the Brexit negotiations, there are still too many questions and too few answers," he said, adding time was running out to reach a deal on these matters.
Mr Barnier told the conference that there will be no damaging and no unraveling of the EU Single Market.
He also said that in this period where the EU "faces so many challenges", it is even more important to strengthen and consolidate the Singe Market.
In relation to Northern Ireland, Mr Barnier said that more clarity is needed, and "most importantly, certainty in the long run".
He said that the full set of issues in the backstop proposal must be addressed and now is the time to do it.
Barnier: we need to find a solution that respects the integrity of the single market. Our backstop means the limited set of EU rules continues to apply that are there now. Already today livestock entering NI from the rest of the UK is checked at entry
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) July 6, 2018
Mr Barnier said he was awaiting Britain's policy paper on its future relationship with the EU, which is due next week.
BREAKING Barnier: I have real respect for Theresa May and I know her daily work is not easy. I don’t want to comment on the white paper that is not yet published. Let me take my time with my team to look carefully, precisely concretely at this paper next week.
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) July 6, 2018
He said that his objective has always been to find an agreement with the UK, and not against it.
Mr Barnier's comments come as British Prime Minister Theresa May's Cabinet meet for a high-stakes meeting over Britain's future relations with the EU.
