French EU Min: 'Still Chance For Deal, But Will Defend Core Interests'

France's European Affairs minister Clement Beaune speaking to Ireland's RTE says on FTA talks with the UK:

• "The negotiations still have a chance to lead to a deal...we will defend our core interests...the negotiating mandate will stay the same."
• "We can find compromises, we can make efforts - both sides - but the key interests of the EU must be respected by the UK"
• "We want to have stable access to U.K. waters but then we can discuss parameters, but this is absolutely fundamental."
• "We need strong elements of LPF because if we are to grant access to the UK to our internal market, which is unknown for any trade partner, in return there has to be some compliance to key rules which make our market work"
• There is little change here from Beaune's comments yesterday.
• While the dinner between Johnson and von der Leyen last night did not reach a breakthrough, the glimmer of hope for a deal comes in the fact that talks were not immediately halted, and indeed that there is the prospect of them continuing beyond Sunday should some progress be made.