Barnier: 'In the middle of an economic shock which is terrible and round the corner because of Coronavirus we have to see if we can come up with a smart agreement to cushion the shock which will at any rate be linked to the UK exit from the Single Market and Customs Union.'

Barnier: 'UK has affirmed its wish to make substantial, tangible progress. We’re on same wavelength. We need genuine progress by June if at end of this year we want to strike an agreement which is comensurate to level of our economic interdependence & geographical proximity.'

Barnier: 'Even in a short time frame it’s possible to strike a complete agreement on all the subjects for our future partnership.'

Barnier: 'Our objective for tangible progress in parallel on all subjects I’m afraid this has only been very partially met this week. The UK didn’t wish to commit seriously on a number of fundamental points.'

Barnier: 'We cannot accept selective progress on a limited set of issues only. We need to find solutions on the most difficult topics. The UK cannot refuse to extend the transition and at the same time slow down discussions on important areas.'

Barnier says the UK 'failed to engage substantively' on Level Playing Field this week. 'It argued our positions are too far apart to reach an agreement. It also denounced the basic premise that economic inter-connectenedess and geographic proximity require robust guarantees.'

Barnier: 'UK refuses to provide firm guarantees rather than vague principles on fundamental rights & individual freedoms. Insists on lowering current standards & deviating from agreed mechanism of data protection. This creates serious limitations for future security partnership.'

Barnier: 'We made no progress on fisheries. On this essential topic UK hasn’t put forward a legal text. EU will not agree to any future economic partnership that does not include a balanced sustainable and long-term solution on fisheries. That should be crystal clear to the UK.'

Barnier: 'We need clear evidence UK is advancing with the introduction of the agreed customs procedures for goods entering Northern Ireland. We need clear evidence UK will be able to carry out all necessary SPS controls as well as other regulatory checks on goods entering NI.'

Barnier says he 'reminded David Frost again that the faithful implantation of the Withdrawal Agreement is absolutely central to our ongoing negotiations'.