UPDATE: MNI: EU Not Working On 'No Deal' Brexit Scenario- Tusk

By Tara Oakes

     BRUSSELS (MNI) - Wednesday's empty timetable for Brexit talks in Brussels

is being filled in with some technical talks, the UK has said.

Neither side wanted to take responsibility for the scant Brexit talks timetable

this week in Brussels, with blame for the glaring gap of scheduled midweek

negotiations shuffled between the UK and EU.

Asked why no negotiations are in place for Wednesday, EC Chief Spokesman

Margaritis Schinas told journalists that EU teams "are available 24/7".

"The timing of talks depends on the availability of the UK partners," he added.

But Britain disputes that they are to blame for the day of rest -- in what are

the final 'first-round talks' scheduled before the European Council will decide

on whether sufficient progress has been made to open talks on the future

relationship.

A UK government spokesman said Tuesday evening:

"The programme was agreed between the UK and EU, and we kept Wednesday free from

the outset to give us flexibility during the round for any technical talks,

which are taking place tomorrow."

"The UK has always been available for that and it is simply incorrect to suggest

otherwise."

Technical talks are to cover a range of issues and will include both EU and UK

officials.

With no proper negotiations scheduled on one of the key sticking points -- the

so-called divorce bill -- chances of sufficient progress being declared this

week have dwindled to non-existent. Lower level technical working groups will

discuss the financial settlement, but that will not be enough for the

declaration of progress required.

Schinas said that for the EC, "our goal is to reach a deal" -- but the overall

prognosis remained bleak.

"There has been no solution found yet on the first phase of negotiations," he

said.

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

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