The EU's chief negotiator has warned the UK against loosening regulations to get a trade deal with the US.
Michel Barnier said Britain had (19459004)
The comments came as EU sources were accused of threatening (19459007) UK officials were in Brussels Theresa May British officials were in Brussels ] today for Brexit negotiations in a last-ditch effort to move on to trade talks before the end of the year.
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In a speech in Rome today, Michel Barnier said Britain had to decide whether it was abandoning the 'European model' - and could not expect to have a close relationship in future if it did ]
Brexit Secretary David Davis, pictured arriving in Downing Street this morning. He has been on a tour of Europe trying to drum up support for Britain's Brexit position, but Europe is dragging out talks in the hope it can squeeze more money out of Britain in the divorce bill But the (19459003)
The EU has been dragging their feet and refusing to start trade deal talks in the hope they can squeeze more money out of Britain for the divorce bill.
An EU official said: 'Some believe that the worse it gets for the British, the better for us ...
' That maybe we could delay it all until, for instance, March, increasing the uncertainty and triggering the contingency plans in the corporate sector. '
In a speech in Rome today, Mr. Barnier raised concerns about a call by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for the UK to move away from the EU's' highly protectionist 'trade stance.
' When I hear the US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in London call on the British to diverge from Europe to better converge with others - towards less regulation, environmental, health, food and no doubt also financial, fiscal and labor regulation - I have to wonder, Mr Barnier said.
'The United Kingdom has chosen to leave the European Union. Does it also want to distance itself from the European model? That's another question. '
He added:' It is up to the British to tell us still to adhere to the European model. Their answer is important because it sets the direction for the discussion on our future partnership and the conditions of its ratification. '
Meanwhile, Eurocrat Guy Verhofstadt taunted Britain by dismissing Theresa May's claim we are in' touching distance 'of an agreement on citizens' rights and moving on to the next phase of talks.
Eurocrat Guy Verhofstadt rejected Britain's plans to guarantee the rights of EU nationals after Brexit - mocking Theresa May's claims they are within 'touching distance' of a deal (file pic) But Italy's Europe minister Sandro Gozi is more optimistic about Britain's could move on to trade talks by the end of the year.
Ambassadors held a meeting ahead of today's crunch talks to 'scope out' options for the next stage of talks and to put pressure on Mrs May to make commitments on the € 60 billion (£ 53 billion) Brexit bill.
A source told The Telegraph : 'The plain fact is that, as Mr. Barnier repeatedly says,' the clock is ticking ', and time is not on the British side.
'The longer the UK waits, the more the pressure will build, the more we shake the tree.'
EU leaders are reportedly preparing for the fall of Mrs May before the New Year after she lost two
And while the PM suffered EU nationals after Brexit.
The Parliament 's Brexit steering group said there' is still major issues that have to be resolved ', and insisted that registration must (19459003)
But former Tory leader and MP Iain Duncan Smith said Europe is in no position to 'lecture' Britain on political stability.
He said: That fact is, I think it is a bit rich of them to speak about this.
'When you look, the Dutch government after its only just managed to find its own feet; it had not formed a government.
'Germany still does not have an official government. You have chaos in Italy, elections coming up, real problems over the banks.
'And in Spain, pretty much arrests taking place on a daily basis of people who wanted to split the country apart. I think it's a bit rich of the EU to lecture [the UK].
Mr. Gozi, who met Mr. Davis during his tour of Europe this week trying to drum up support for Britain's Brexit case - visiting Poland and Italy on his tour.
visit to Rome earlier this week, said he believed there was a chance of reaching a trade deal within the next year.
Theresa May, pictured leaving No1 last night, is facing questions over her future after she lost two Cabinet ministers in a week. Her party and deputy Damian Green has been engulfed in the Westminster sleaze scandal and her Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is also facing a call to quit after a gaffe which could be a British mother with five more years in. Iranian jail Mr Gozi told BBC Radio 4's Today program: 'I do believe there is a chance. I think there is a chance in December of starting negotiations for a positive trade relationship
'I also think that we should start to talk as soon as possible about the transition period, which is very important for the business sector - the UK business sector, but also the EU business sector. '
But Britain faces a race against time to get EU leaders to agree to move on to the next stage of talks.
This (19459003)
If they refuse to, Britain will have to wait until March before they have another shot at securing an agreement - a year after Article 50 was triggered to kick off the two-year Brexit process.
Meanwhile, the EU Commission has forecast that Britain's GDP growth for 2017 was downgraded to 1.5 per cent - from 1.8 per cent in the previous forecast in the spring.
The prediction for 2018 unchanged at 1.3 per cent and a gloomier 1.1 per cent for 2019, when Britain is due formally to leave the EU.
The commission predicted the eurozone will grow by 2.2 per cent this year, 2.1 per cent next year and 1.9 percent in 2019.
