We’ve reached the limit on Brexit offer, says EU envoy

Maros Sefcovic, a vice-president of the European Commission, proposed to remove the majority of checks on goods passing from Britain to Northern Ireland
Maros Sefcovic, a vice-president of the European Commission, proposed to remove the majority of checks on goods passing from Britain to Northern Ireland
YVES HERMAN/REUTERS

The European Union has gone “to the limits” of what it can offer Britain, the bloc’s ambassador has claimed, as the two sides prepare to begin the first face to face negotiations on Brexit since last year.

Lord Frost, the Brexit minister, is due to travel to Brussels tomorrow for discussions with the European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic.

Talks are already taking place at an official level and the two men are due to set a schedule for intensive negotiations over the coming weeks.

Lord Frost is to hold talks with Maros Sefcovic tomorrow about the latest proposal
Lord Frost is to hold talks with Maros Sefcovic tomorrow about the latest proposal
AARON CHOWN/PA

Frost has made clear he wants to see a deal in place by the end of November and has privately warned that unless progress is made soon the UK will begin the process of triggering Article 16 of the protocol.