The whole approach of the UK government to the discussions was castigated by a senior EU official involved, who further warned that the bloc would not be forced into positions that were against its interests. “The EU doesn’t negotiate under threat,” the senior EU official said. The senior EU official said: “I have to say on the basis of this week’s discussions, I am a bit concerned because the pre-condition for fruitful discussions has to be that the UK accepts the consequences of its own choices. “We were not keen to have a discussion on the backstop to the backstop,” the official said. The EU official warned that progress on the Irish border – “let alone substantive progress” – was proving “elusive”.

Source: The Guardian May 24, 2018 18:34 UTC