EU says Britain making unrealistic post-Brexit demands

Despite devastating ecomic fallout from coronavirus pandemic, Britain is making scant effort to negotiate a far-reaching free tre deal in wake of Brexit that would stave off a costly final separation at end of year, European Union said Friday.

EU negotiatior Michel Barnier said his British counterparts keep insisting on unrealistic delines and demands that could only le to a chaotic tre rupture which would mount ecomic losses on both sides on top of those alrey expected from coronavirus crisis.

“I am worried,” Barnier said after what he described as ar week of “disappointing” video negotiations between both sides. Barnier said Britain h me it clear it would t seek an extension to transition period beyond Dec. 31, even though it could get one of up to two years.

Britain officially left 27-nation bloc on Jan. 31, but remains within EU’s ecomic orbit, including its single market for tre in goods and services, until end of year. two sides have until n to work out a new relationship covering tre, security and a host of or issues.

Both sides have been hit hard by coronavirus, with Barnier and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson both having been infected.