Brussels (AFP)

Still no progress ... but the promise to speed up discussions this summer, with a view to reaching an agreement at the end of October: after another week of talks on their post-Brexit relationship, the EU and the UK still believes it is possible to avoid a "no deal".

"There has been no significant progress this week" and "we cannot go on like this forever", said European negotiator Michel Barnier at a press conference after four days of talks by videoconference .

But "I have no doubt that we will find common ground in the summer and at the latest in early autumn," he added.

He warned that an agreement was needed by October 31 so that it could be ratified by member states before the end of the year.

His British counterpart David Frost also said in a press release, "limited" progress.

The next round of negotiations, at the end of June, should take place in a restricted format on the most difficult issues. And if the situation allows, the meeting could be physical.

- "No effort" -

According to a European source, the deadlock persisted this week on the most conflicting points of the negotiation, such as fishing or the conditions of fair competition demanded by the EU (the "level playing field", editor's note).

"The British are no longer even pretending to negotiate," she said. "There has been no effort on their part."

In summary, the gap remains wide. And the objective of a fully-fledged agreement on December 31, when the transition ends during which the United Kingdom - which left the EU on January 31 - continues to apply European rules, seems difficult to achieve. .

The lack of progress gives all the more importance to the "High Level Conference", scheduled for June, between the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, that of the European Council Charles Michel, and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

This meeting, probably by videoconference, should make it possible to take stock of the discussions and their revival.

One solution would be to extend the transition period - and therefore the duration of negotiations - by one or two years, as London has the option to request by the end of the month. But the British categorically reject this hypothesis.

- "Cul-de-sac" -

"We are entering a month supposed to be key. However, we are in a dead end," says a European source. "Now you need political impetus."

The Europeans continue to stick in this negotiation to the "Political Declaration" concluded last year with the British, which sets the framework for the future relationship.

They want a very broad agreement, accompanied by serious guarantees to prevent the United Kingdom from deregulating its economy in fiscal, social or environmental matters. And demand access to British waters for their fishermen.

But London, which wants nothing more than a classic free trade agreement preserving its sovereignty, possibly accompanied by small sectoral agreements, considers these demands excessive.

"We will not accept going back on the Political Declaration," insists Michel Barnier. "This document is available in all languages, including English. It is not complicated to read."

Response from a senior British official: "We are committed to the Political Declaration. We view it as a document that sets the parameters. Not as a treaty per se."

© 2020 AFP