EC reveals no-deal contingency plan

The European Commission has proposed measures to ensure basic air and road traffic can continue between Britain and the European Union in the event that no trade deal is approved by the two sides by the end of the year.

"While the Commission will continue to do its utmost to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the UK, there is now significant uncertainty whether a deal will be in place on 1 January 2021," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on Thursday.

The announcement comes a day after in-person talks between von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had failed to produce any tangible results and set Sunday as a new deadline to reach a post-Brexit trade agreement.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was "unlikely" that the negotiations would be extended beyond Sunday, in comments to the BBC on Thursday.

The EU contingency measures would include basic air and road connectivity between the two partners, and potential reciprocal fishing access for vessels to each other's waters.

These measures would apply "for the period during which there is no agreement in place." Even if a deal is reached, it still needs to be ratified - a lengthy process.

In case of a no-deal, the statement says, the measures "will end after a fixed period."

"Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities, including not having a deal in place with the UK on 1 January 2021," von der Leyen said.

Negotiators are racing against the clock to strike a deal, with a transition period that grants Britain access to the EU's common market running out on December 31.