BREXIT Negotiations: Barnier: "I'm not hearing any whistling..just the clock ticking": BBC News

BBC News

Published on 12 Jul 2017

The EU's top Brexit negotiator has said there are still major differences between the EU and UK on the rights of EU citizens living in Britain.

"The British position does not allow those persons concerned to continue to live their lives as they do today," Michael Barnier said.

Mr Barnier said the European Court of Justice (ECJ) must have jurisdiction to guarantee citizens' rights.

He also said it was essential that the UK recognise its financial obligations.

If Britain did not recognise it had some financial obligations, there would be no basis to discuss other issues, he said.

Ahead of the second round of talks next week, he said the EU had made its stance on the issues clear - and was waiting on Britain to do the same.

"Our team is ready. I'm ready," he said. "I'm very prepared and willing to work on this very quickly - night and day, the weekend."

"We want EU citizens in Britain to have the same rights as British citizens who live in the EU," he told a news conference.