Chief negotiator with the UK Michel Barnier......>

EU: Chief negotiator with the UK Michel Barnier will speak at a press conference

at 1200BST (1300CET, 0700ET) on the progress made (or lack thereof) in the

latest week-long round of talks between the EU and UK on an FTA.

- The sounds coming out of both sides following this week's talks have been

broadly negative, with the UK saying the EU is being inflexible in not offering

the UK similar terms to other nations that have FTAs with the EU. Meanwhile, the

EU has accused the UK of failing to present its own detailed plans on what they

want the future relationship to look like.

- Link to watch here: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/ebs/live/1

- The next fourth negotiating round is due to take place in the week of June 1. 

- After these talks a conference between the two sides is due to take place

before the end of June to take stock of the negotiations. There is no set date

for this conference as of yet. 

- A joint EU-UK commission has to decide by June 30 whether the 'transition

period', where the UK is in the single market and customs union, is to be

extended beyond year end.