The UK and EU “should not pretend to be negotiating” a Brexit deal if there are no new proposals on the table, the EU’s chief negotiator has said.
Michel Barnier said the UK telling the EU what it does not like about the current agreement was “not enough”.
He cast doubt on a UK proposal to give Northern Ireland a future veto over EU rules, saying all parts of the UK would have to sign up to the terms of exit.
Boris Johnson has said there is a “landing zone” for an agreement.
He has said a deal is possible at a crucial summit of EU leaders on 17 October – although ministers have said they are reluctant to reveal the details of new proposals in advance for fear they will be “rubbished” by the EU.
Mr Johnson has insisted he will not accept a further delay beyond 31 October despite MPs passing a law requiring him to seek an extension if there is no deal by 19 October.
After meeting Mr Barnier and Mr Juncker in Luxembourg on Monday, Mr Johnson said the process of trying to get a deal on the terms of exit would be accelerated.
Briefing the European Parliament, Mr Juncker said the lunch had been “friendly and constructive” but there had been no progress on the main sticking point – the UK’s demand that the Northern Irish backstop should be removed from the current agreement.
Mr Juncker said any alternative to the backstop must achieve the same objectives – to prevent the need for physical infrastructure on the border with the Republic of Ireland, to safeguard the EU’s single market and protect all-Ireland economic co-operation.
There were significant moments in Strasbourg this morning, even if the discussion lacked the fireworks present in the Brexit debate elsewhere.
Jean-Claude Juncker clearly signalled that in his last few weeks in office he will show solidarity with the Republic of Ireland rather than siding with the UK to get a deal. That will disappoint those in the UK who bank on him wanting an agreement to secure his legacy.
The EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, gave a cautious thumbs-up to the big British idea of an all-Ireland zone for plant and animal health.
But he appeared to give a thumbs-down to another – giving the Stormont Assembly a decisive say over the Irish backstop, or whatever takes its place.
“I said to Mr Johnson that I have no emotional attachment to the backstop but I stand by the objectives it is intended to achieve,” he said.
“That is why I called on the PM to come forward with operational proposals in writing.
“Until such time those proposals have been presented, I will not be able to tell you looking you straight in the eye that any real progress has been achieved.”
Mr Barnier said the UK had made it clear which parts of the backstop – which would see Northern Ireland closely tied to the single market and the UK follow EU customs rules until a new trade deal is agreed – it did not like, but “that is not enough to move towards a solution”.
