No Headway as France Lambastes UK’s “Unrealistic” Approach to Brexit

PARIS, KOMPAS.com – Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union failed to make headway as the post-transition period inches closer to the final stretch which ends on December 31.

Both sides are pushing to have a deal in place by the end of the post-Brexit transition period.

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called out Britain for the stalled talks due to London’s "intransigent and frankly unrealistic" approach.

"Negotiations are not advancing due to the intransigent and frankly unrealistic attitude of the United Kingdom," Le Drian said in a speech to French ambassadors in Europe, alongside German counterpart Heiko Maas.

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His downbeat assessment is the latest in a succession of negative comments by top figures within the EU about the progress of talks.

EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Friday at the close of the seventh round of trade talks that a deal was looking unlikely, with discussions stuck on key issues including fishing rights and competition rules.

Hundreds of negotiators met over several days in the Belgian capital with both sides acknowledging a sliver of progress on technical issues — but not on the main obstacles.

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"Those who were hoping for negotiations to move swiftly forward this week will have been disappointed," Barnier told reporters after the talks ended on Friday.