EU giving 'final push' to reach Brexit deal with UK, says Barnier

Michel Barnier said on Tuesday that the European Union is giving a "final push" to reach a Brexit deal with the UK.

Speaking to reporters before a meeting in Brussels to brief EU ambassadors, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator said: "We are really in a crucial moment. We are giving it a final push."

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the EU had rejected the UK’s latest concessions on fishing.

On Monday, the UK made a proposal that would see the EU reduce the value of the fish it catches in UK waters by 30%, down from the 60% cut it was insisting the EU accept last week. However, sources cited by Bloomberg said the offer had been rejected.

The UK and the EU have until 31 December to agree a trade deal. On Monday, the government insisted it would not extend the transition period despite growing calls for the deadline to be pushed back.

At 1555 GMT, sterling was down 1% against the dollar at 1.3336.