Britain will need to clarify its position on the UK’s financial commitments towards the European Union if Brexit negotiations are to progress, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has warned.



Barnier's statement came after recent comments by UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who said EU negotiators could "go whistle" if they expected Britain to pay an "extortionate" bill when the UK left the union.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels alongside Brexit secretary David Davis at the end of the second round of talks, Barnier said: “The United Kingdom recognized last week the existence of its obligations vis-à-vis to the union after the date of withdrawal, and the need to settle these commitments."



He went on: “As I said very clearly to David, a clarification of the United Kingdom's position is essential to negotiate and to achieve sufficient progress on this financial dossier, which is inseparable from the other withdrawal dossiers."



Asked about Johnson's comments, Davis noted the foreign secretary’s use of the term "extortionate".



Dozens of EU and UK negotiators spent this week’s talks in working groups going through presentations of each side’s respective positions on the set of issues they agreed last month would constitute the first phase of talks: citizens’ rights, financial settlement, and "other separation issues", as well as an ongoing dialogue to find a solution to the potential Ireland–Northern Ireland border issue.

Although Barnier said he was pleased with the detailed offer put forward by the UK in regard to the rights of EU citizens, he underlined a number of times during the press conference the lack of a clear British position on other key issues.

"We make better progress when our positions are clear," Barnier said.