Barnier: no deal in Brexit not a positive thing

(20 Nov 2017) The EU Chief Brexit negotiator said Monday that failing to reach a Brexit deal with the United Kingdom was not in the European Union's interest even though it would be ready for it. Michel Barnier was speaking at a conference to launch the Centre for European Reform's Brussels office. The European Union's top Brexit negotiator also said that is up to the United Kingdom to offer solutions on how to settle its border with Ireland and insisted it was not up to the EU to offer compromises. Barnier told a conference that to find a way out of the conundrum of the UK leaving the EU but still have a transparent, open border with Ireland would need fast and clear proposals from London. He said that "those who wanted Brexit must offer solutions." The EU wants "sufficient progress" on the Irish issue, the rights of EU citizens remaining in Britain and the outstanding bill Britain must pay before the negotiations can move to future relations next month. Barnier also dismissed that Britain could continue to enjoy some of the benefits of the single market but not abide by the core EU principle of freedom of movement. "Those who claim that the UK should cherry pick part of the single market must stop this contradiction," he said, adding the UK's decisions to end free movement of people would mean "clearly that you will lose the benefits of this single market". Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...