MNI: No Sufficient Brexit Progress Yet, EC Says At Parl Vote

By Tara Oakes

     BRUSSELS (MNI) - European Commission President Juncker and Brexit

negotiator Michel Barnier told the EU's Parliament Tuesday that sufficient

progress had not yet been reached in first round UK talks.

     The progress label is needed in three key areas to move on to any

negotiations on a transition deal or future partnership.

     Juncker and Barnier said the target had not yet been reached in talks on

issues relating to island of Ireland, citizens' rights and the divorce bill.

     Barnier told the audience that Prime Minister May's Florence speech had

added momentum to the debate but was not yet enough.

     "There are still serious divergences, especially on the financial

settlement," Barnier said in Strasbourg.

     The EC representatives were addressing MEPs as part of a debate on a draft

resolution put forward by the Parliament's Brexit steering committee, stating

that sufficient progress has not yet been reached.

     The ultimate decision on the benchmark will be made by the European Council

later in October, with the EP's vote purely advisory.

     Conservative MEP Ashley Fox called the Parliament vote an "unnecessary

distraction".

     "The European Parliament has an important role to play later in the process

but for now it should allow the negotiators to do their work and refrain from

politicking on the sidelines," Fox said in a statement.

     Manfred Weber, head of Parliament's biggest party, the EPP, said there was

"no chance" of moving on to second-phase talks yet. His calls for the

resignation of UK Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, is an escalation of public

bitterness which has marred the debate on both sides.

--MNI Brussels Bureau; +44 203-865-3851; email: tara.oakes@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$B$$$,M$E$$$,MC$$$$,MI$$$$,MGB$$$]