Speaking after talks with Spain’s industry minister in Brussels, Mr Barnier said: “The EU continues to work for an orderly Brexit and an ambitious future partnership with the UK that should include a close economic relationship.”
Diplomats earlier indicated the EU would wait until November before kicking off full-blown preparations for a possible no-deal scenario.
A senior Brussels official said: “We will wait for if and when the negotiations with Britain officially fail to kickstart more open work among the 27 on preparing for a no-deal.
“We’ve given ourselves until November. But there are areas where we need to act to have something in place on March 30th no matter what.”
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