Brexit talks began again today as the coronavirus crisis triggered fresh calls for a delay. The Government has until December 31 to strike a trade deal with Brussels – and progress must be made by the end of June.
No10 has insisted it will not accept an extension to the 11-month transition, which started when the UK formally left the EU on January 31.
British chief negotiator David Frost and European counterpart Michel Barnier talked via video link. Downing Street expects the week-long negotiations to be “constructive” with the “aim of making progress” ahead of a high-level meeting in June to review the situation.
Topics include trade, transport, law enforcement, energy, governance, fisheries and social security. The next two rounds are