BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will not leave the negotiating table with Britain on a future trade relationship even if London pushes ahead with its withdrawal treaty-breaking internal market bill European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said.

Speaking at a news conference after a meeting of a joint committee of EU and British officials tasked with solving difficult issues, Sefcovic noted however that the internal market bill had created a lot of political difficulties.

“The introduction of the internal market bill and the contentions articles created a very difficult political situation,” Sefcovic said, noting it was a “breach of trust”.

But he said: “It will never be the EU which would cause the end of the negotiation on the future partnership between the EU and the UK.”