The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has told the European Parliament that a deal with the UK is “within reach”.

Michel Barnier told MEPs there could be an agreement if “both sides are willing to work constructively, both sides are willing to compromise, and if we're able to make progress in the next few days on the basis of legal texts, and if we're ready in the next few days to resolve the sticking points".

'Door remains open'

UK prime minister Boris Johnson last week put Brexit talks on hold after expressing disappointment about the outcome of a meeting of EU leaders, but it is understood contact between Mr Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost has continued.

Mr Barnier said the EU still wanted a deal, though he stressed that time was running out.

"We will seek the necessary compromises on both sides in order to do our utmost to reach an agreement and we will do so right up until the last day that it's possible to do so. Our doors will always remain open right up until the very end," he said.

Quotas

Speaking about one of the main obstacles to a deal, fisheries, Mr Barnier said there needed to be mutual access to waters, and a fair distribution of quotas for fishermen on both sides.

The other main sticking points are a ‘level playing field’ for businesses under any new arrangements and differences about how any disputes should be resolved.