-UK: Chief negotiator for the EU in EU-UK FTA....>

EU: -UK: Chief negotiator for the EU in EU-UK FTA talks Michel Barnier has said

progress made during this first week of FTA talks has been "disappointing".

- Criticises the UK's refusal to come to an agreement on level playing field

provisions, saying both sides are very far apart and there would be no

wide-ranging FTA without LPF.

- Barnier says the UK seeking multiple agreements, a la Switzerland, is "in

nobody's interest", with EU favouring an all encompassing FTA, where compliance

by UK in one area is directly linked to maintenance of provisions in another. 

- Next negotiating week begins 11 May. 

- UK has already said it won't ask for an extension to transition period.

Barnier says UK cannot refuse extension of transition period, slow down

progress, and expect FTA at same time.