⁍ The EU’s negotiator Michel Barnier told the parliament an agreement was still ‘within reach’
London has refused to continue full negotiations, saying the EU must ‘fundamentally change’ its stance.

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⁍ Britain, one of Europe’s biggest military powers, has also formally notified the EU of its intention to withdraw from the bloc’s military missions by the end of this year.

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– British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his country will leave the European Union’s single market and customs union after Brexit—but the EU isn’t giving up hope of a deal. The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said Wednesday that an agreement is still within reach with 10 weeks to go before Britain is due to leave the bloc, Reuters reports. “Time is very short and we stand ready to negotiate 24/7, on all subjects, on legal texts,” Michel told the European Parliament. “The UK has a bit of a decision to make and it’s their free and sovereign choice.” He said Britain’s answer would determine its level of access to the EU’s internal market of 450 million consumers. London has refused to continue full negotiations, saying the EU must “fundamentally change” its stance. The EU sees this as bluff by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but has also extended an olive branch by talking up UK sovereignity, as well as the EU’s readiness to discuss intensively, across the board, and on specific legal texts. Johnson said Wednesday that Britain will leave the EU’s single market and customs union after Brexit—but the EU has rejected his proposal to keep close ties to the bloc’s single market. “The only deal that is good for the United Kingdom and good for the United Kingdom is one that is legally valid,” he said. “The only deal that is good for the United Kingdom and good for the European Union is one that is legally valid.” The BBC reports that Britain has also notified the EU that it will withdraw from the EU’s military missions around the world.