David Davis rules out agreeing a figure for the Brexit divorce bill until the end of the year as EU stand-off deepens
The chief Brussels negotiator has demanded the UK comes up with more details on what it plans to pay but the Brexit Secretary won't give a number until at least October
DAVID Davis has ruled out agreeing any figure for Britain’s Brexit divorce bill until at least the end of this year, deepening a stand-off with the EU.
Chief Brussels negotiator Michel Barnier has demanded the UK comes up with more details on what it plans to pay.
Making “sufficient progress” on the sum by the Autumn is a key EU condition before any talks can begin to strike a new trade deal for after Brexit.
But the Brexit Secretary insisted yesterday: “There won’t be a number by October or November”.
Mr Davis also said the EU had had a “difficult time in the negotiation” over its legal justification for Britain’s divorce bill.
The government has accepted it has future obligations to the EU that it must stump up for.
But it has dismissed reports that it is looking at a figure of £36billion as speculation.
Mr Davis did open the door to Britain paying for the privilege of striking trade deals while remaining in a temporary customs union with the EU yesterday.
When pressed, he refused to rule out financing the transition deal with cash, but said any figure would not be as high as today’s £10bn a year membership contributions.
Dublin last night called on Britain to make progress on the bill.
MOST READ IN POLITICS:
The Irish government said: “The immediate focus for the coming rounds of negotiations remains on advancing the issues identified for phase one of the negotiations, including citizens’ rights and the financial settlement, as well as issues specific to Ireland.
“The Government remains hopeful that there will be sufficient progress on these issues to allow the necessary parallel discussions on the future relationship between the EU and the UK, including in relation to customs, to commence.”
