Michel Barnier expected to warn David Davis of no 'sufficient progress' in Brexit talks, as EU summit looms

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, is expected to warn that no sufficient progress has been made in the Brexit talks at a press conference today with David Davis, his British counterpart. 

Officials in Brussels have reportedly complained that "nothing, zero, no progress" was made this week, with both sides still in deadlock over the key issues of citizens rights, the financial settlement and Northern Ireland. 

Unless the EU deems "sufficient progress" to have been made on those three areas, the talks cannot progress onto phase two, which will include discussions on a free trade agreement. 

The grim prediction comes despite positive signals earlier this week from British officials who had suggested that they were close to reaching an agreement on the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and vice versa. 

Net week EU leaders will meet in Brussels on 19 October for a two day summit,  where they will decide whether Britain has made “sufficient progress” in the negotiations.

 As huge divisions remain over the financial settlement there is little hope of trade talks being given the green light.

European Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs the meetings of EU leaders, said earlier this week that he hoped to reach sufficient progress by December. 

The press conference is due to begin at 11.15am UK time. Stay with us for the latest updates. 

Asa Bennett will be engaging with readers in the comments section of this story from 12.15pm today. He will also be joining Dia Chakravarty in a Facebook Live Q&A at 2.30pm, where they will answer readers' questions. 

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