According to a senior Brussels diplomat, Barnier was neither pessimistic nor optimistic. He said there had been a lot of movement, but "still some stuff to be done... level playing field, fisheries".

In another article, Reuters reported that Barnier told EU member states’ envoys that talks on a trade deal with the UK were reaching “a make-or-break moment”. He also said that negotiations remained snagged on fishing rights in British waters, ensuring fair competition guarantees and ways to solve future disputes.