Barnier: it may take months to get to phase two of Brexit talks – Politics live

Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, with David Davis holding a press conference with the EU’s Michel Barnier and Theresa May discussing the free market

Here are the main points from the press conference with David Davis, the Brexit secretary, and Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator.

On the negotiations overall

I believe that thanks to the constructive and determined manner with which both sides have conducted these negotiations we are making decisive steps forward.

We managed to create clarity on some points. On others, however, more work remains to be done. We are not there yet.

We must also acknowledge that a major question remains open between us – it relates to the enforcement of citizens rights after we leave the European Union.

The UK has been clear that, as a third country outside of the European Union, it would not be right for this role to be performed by the European court of justice.

We accept, and have done from the start, that there is a need for certainty for them [EU nationals]. That’s what we are aiming to produce, without allowing the European court of justice to make rulings within and on cases in the UK. And this is the compromise we are working towards.

It is not unusual. There are plenty of arrangements where we have treaties that confine what the United Kingdom [can] do – very specific, with very real aims. And that’s what we are doing here.

It will give the assurance to our citizens that they will be able to invoke their rights, as defined by the withdrawal agreement, before UK courts. We agreed to guarantee – for the citizens concerned – that the UK will apply EU law concepts in a manner that is consistent with EU law after Brexit.

We failed to agree that the European court of justice must play an indispensable role in ensuring this consistency. This is a stumbling block for the EU.

There are others [areas of disagreement]. 1) A big gap remains between our positions on family reunification. We want existing rights to continue for the citizens concerned. 2) The export of social security benefits also remains to be discussed. 3) Citizens need simplified administrative procedures. The UK stated its intention to put in place a streamlined system.

We have provided further reassurance on how European Union citizens will be able to apply for a new status, once we leave.

And we know that those already holding permanent residency documents should not have to go through the full process.

The United Kingdom thinks that in some cases we must go beyond the strict requirements of current EU law in order to protect citizens. For example we have offered the European Union guaranteed rights of return for settled EU citizens in the UK, in return for onward movement rights, right for onward movement, for our UK nationals who currently live within the EU27.

Prime Minister May said two things in Florence. First: that no member state should pay more; and no member state should receive less because of Brexit. Second, that the UK will honour commitments taken during its membership.

This week, the UK negotiating team made clear that applying the first principle would be limited to 2019-2020.

Here is some Twitter comment on the press conference.

From AFP’s Danny Kemp

Barnier definitely rained on the parade there. ‘Weeks or months’ to sufficient progress, and ‘no possible link’ betw bill and trade talks

Brexit in Zitaten. Barnier (Brüssel): “Haben keinen ausreichenden Fortschritt.” Davis (London): “Haben erheblichen Fortschritt erzielt.”

Brexit in quotes. Barnier (Brussels): “have no sufficient progress.” Davis (London): “have made substantial progress.”

Clear from Barnier/Davis presser there have been important steps fwd, May speech helped (also in terms of tone), but pending issues are big

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