Disagreements over fishing rights, settling disputes and economic fair play persist after weekend trade talks with Britain, an EU diplomat has said.
The person, who spoke after an update by the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to the 27 member states, stressed getting the substance of any new UK pact right was more important for the bloc than putting an agreement in place in time before Britain's transition out of the EU completes on December 31.
"On fair competition, as on fisheries in particular, the United Kingdom has not made the necessary choices," said the diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity. "In any case, the substance takes precedence over the schedule."
Irish Border
Elsewhere, EU and UK officials will meet on Monday in Brussels to discuss implementing their divorce Brexit deal for the sensitive Irish border in time for the start of 2021, a deputy head of the bloc's executive European Commission said.
"I will meet Michael Gove today in Brussels to discuss the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are working hard to make sure it is fully operational as of 1 January 2021," said the Commission's Maros Sefcovic.
The UK's draft Internal Market Bill - which would undercut bits of the Brexit divorce settlement - is due back before the parliament late on Monday.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine
