If there is an elephant in the room in Brussels it must be the Brexit bill. The British are steadfastly refusing to propose a method for working out what we owe - although we acknowledge we owe something. We just keep picking away at the EU's proposals like a scab. We are now apparently asking for the EU's legal justification for the money (HERE).
This in spite of both Juncker and Barnier repeatedly asking for a UK paper setting out our position on the money. In Downing Street they are still sticking to the idea that trade discussions can be started quickly (HERE) in spite of Juncker and Barnier - for the umpteenth time - making it "crystal clear" that NO trade talks are possible until the first phase of the negotiations show sufficient progress.
“We need to be crystal clear that we’ll start no negotiations on the new relationship, particularly the new economic and trade relationship, between the U.K and the EU, before all these questions are resolved,” Juncker (HERE) said, adding: “We cannot mix these issues up.”
So much for David Davis' call for flexibility on Monday. The EU are showing as much flexibility as cast iron. Tomorrow's press conference in Brussels is going to be fascinating and wonderfully awkward. It would be a shock if the EU allowed the next round to go ahead as scheduled. Oh well, just 575 days to go.
