EU asks UK for ‘necessary moves’ in Brexit talks

Brussels, Oct 15 (efe-epa).- European Union leaders on Thursday urged the United Kingdom to make the “necessary moves” to reach an agreement on their trade relationship after Brexit.

They asked the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier to continue the talks in the coming weeks.

Leaders in the bloc also urged countries, EU institutions and all interested parties, including businesses, to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal outcome.

Europe’s heads of state called on the British government to “make the necessary moves to make an agreement possible”.

The statement was issued after a two-day summit in Brussels to analyze the state of the talks on the future political and commercial relationship between the 27 member states and the UK.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen left the summit to go into isolation after a member of her team tested positive for Covid-19.

She said this was a precautionary measure as she had tested negative herself.

EU leaders warned there has not been sufficient progress on key issues including guarantees to ensure fair competition between British and EU companies and fishing rights.

They added that they will “step up their work” to protect the bloc’s interests in the event a deal is not agreed before the 31 December deadline when the UK will become completely independent.

The statement flagged “with concern that progress on the key issues of interest to the union is still not sufficient for an agreement to be reached”.