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The European Commission has proposed 31 December, 2022 as the ultimate end date for a possible extension to the post-Brexit transition or implementation period, according to a diplomatic note of a meeting between Michel Barnier and EU27 ambassadors in Brussels this afternoon.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier also said that the UK is still pushing for a Chequers-style free trade area in goods with a common rule-book to be included in the political declaration on the future relationship.

There was a divide between member states that want an ambitious trading relationship with the UK and those who want Britain’s access to the single market to be more constrained.

The UK wants to maintain the status quo on internal security, which is also “a problem,” ambassadors were told.

The final political declaration could be between 14 and 20 pages long.

Spain raised serious concerns about Gibraltar, which officials fear could grow in the coming days.

Michel Barnier said the political situation in the UK was “volatile.”

A diplomat said the message from the EU’s Brexit negotiators to the member states was “keep a lid on your concerns for now and we’ll deal with them in the negotiations on the future relationship.".

The European Council is also planning to issue conclusions which will go alongside the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration when they are endorsed at the special summit next week.