EU Negotiator Says 'No Reason to be Optimistic' on Striking Brexit Deal with UK

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Thursday there was "no reason to be optimistic" about striking a possible divorce deal with Britain before a summit next month.

"We have no reason to be optimistic" that such an accord will be found in time for the October 17-18 summit which comes two weeks before Britain's scheduled exit from the bloc, he told senior MEPs in Brussels.