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POLITICS | ANALYSIS

EU splits are showing

Bruno Waterfield
The Times

Deadlock was the word of the day as the fifth round of Brexit talks ended in stalemate yesterday.

The big question over the next six days will be whether the European Union gives Michel Barnier, the lead Brussels negotiator, the freedom to do a deal to prevent a hard Brexit in March 2019.

David Davis urged — even pleaded with — EU leaders to loosen Mr Barnier’s mandate next week, giving him the green light to explore a transition deal. Last week the Frenchman asked EU ambassadors the same question but Germany, with French support, rebuffed him. For the first time since the referendum, the unity of the EU over Brexit is being tested, with diplomats reporting that “most” countries supported the call for transition