EU's Barnier says latest post-Brexit talks with UK disappointing, 'rowing back on deal with Boris'

The UK "failed to engage substantially" on key sticking points in Brexit talks held this week, the EU's chief negotiator has said.

Michel Bariner accused also Boris Johnson's government of rowing back on commitments made in writing by the Britain at the point before exit.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier gave an update on the latest post-Brexit talks with the UK, at the end of the second round of talks on the future relationship.

Discussions resumed this week by videoconference after a six-week standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the health and economic crisis, attention must focus on the post-Brexit ties, which must be sorted before the transition period ends on December 31. This keeps many arrangements intact from the UK's time as an EU member state.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has accused the UK of dragging its feet over post-Brexit negotiations, at the end of the second round of talks on the future relationship.

He described this week's talks, which resumed this week by videoconference after a six-week standstill amid the coronavirus pandemic, as "disappointing" -- adding that no progress had been made in key areas.

The UK had failed to engage or provide texts on crucial topics such as fishing, Barnier said. Yet "more than ever, the clock is ticking," he added, ahead of crucial deadlines this year.

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