France says it isn’t ‘intimidated’ by threat of no deal after new Halloween deadline set for Brexit talks

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BIG-talking France has warned it isn’t “intimidated” by the threat of no deal after Michel Barnier set a new Halloween deadline for the Brexit talks. 

Britain and the EU are on course for a spooky showdown with negotiations going to the wire despite the PM’s call for both sides to speed them up. 

French President Emmanuel Macros won’t back down from his fishing demands

And Emmanuel Macron will spark a major bust-up on fishing by insisting Brussels sticks to its hardline demand of full access to our waters. 

His new Europe minister Clement Beaune said the French President will be “intransigent” and block a deal if he doesn’t get what he wants. 

He vowed: “We will not accept a deal at any price. Better no deal at all than a bad deal.” 

Mr Beaune said the French leader would rather bail out battered coastal communities than back down.

He said: “Let’s not kid ourselves, if there is no deal, it will be a difficult issue. 

“We’ll have to organise a response for sectors like fisheries, support our fishermen financially. We’re not there yet.” 

In a video call with EU boss Ursula von der Leyen last month the PM said he would accept nothing less than a “huge difference” to current terms. 

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with the PM’s Europe adviser David Frost

Mr Barnier has floated a compromise that would mix and match both sides’ demands, but UK negotiators are holding firm. 

EU diplomats said the British fleet would be unable to catch all the fish in its waters and needs to sell its products into Europe. 

One Brussels source told HOAR: “They must know it’s ludicrous in terms of the actual impact. It would be a disaster for both sides.” 

Mr Barnier laid out the new October 31 deadline during a hearing with French MPs. 

He also revealed the final deal won’t need signing off by all 27 EU states, boosting hopes it can be wrapped up by the end of the year. 

Brexit talks in London yielded no new progress this week and will now take a two-week break before returning on August 17. 

A senior EU source told HOAR: “It’s not bad the negotiators are having a bit of a break if they want to make progress. 

“They can put things aside to rest and recharge their batteries, and perhaps come back with some fresh ideas.” 

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