EU: Britain has two weeks to clarify Brexit bill

Michael Barnier, who is leading the EU’s Brexit negotiations, has given the UK government a deadline of two weeks to clarify which financial commitments it is ready to honour.

The EU is saying it will not continue trade talks or a possible transition deal before the UK makes sufficient progress on the issues of Britain’s exit bill, Ireland’s border and EU citizens’ rights.

Barnier, at a press conference today, demanded that Britain clarify exactly what it was willing to pay as a price for leaving the Union, maintaining that it was ‘vital’ that the UK make known within a forthnight what its intentions were regarding the estimated €60 billion bill for leaving.

UK Brexit secretary David Davis asked Barnier to be flexible and move on to discussion on the future of the UK-EU relationship.

However, a decision has to be taken during an EU summit on December 14 and 15 on whether enough progress has been made on this issue, and on citizens’ rights and the Irish border.

Without this, the EU is insisting that talks on future relations cannot take place.