国际英语资讯:84 areas of UK life likely to be hit in no-deal Brexit scenario_时事

国际英语资讯:84 areas of UK life likely to be hit in no-deal Brexit scenario

Brexit relations hit a new low on Wednesday after Brussels refused to deny that EU negotiators have raised concerns that they are being spied on by the British intelligence agency, MI6.

The European Commission declined to comment on the reports that British intelligence assets are suspected of being used to give the UK an upper hand in Brexit talks.

It was reported that officials first suspected they were being bugged after the UK obtained sensitive documents "within hours" of them being presented to EU officials last month.

The news came as British negotiators head to Brussels on Thursday to resume two days of technical Brexit talks, although little progress is expected to be made on substantive issues until Autumn.

Hunt visited countries in northern Europe this week to seek support for the Chequers proposal, masterminded by British Prime Minister Theresa May in early July, from those who see Britain as a key military ally.

On his return, the foreign secretary made clear that the British government would accept European environmental and social legislation if it led to a free trade agreement.

"I'm getting a strong sense that, not just in Holland but in many of the places that I've visited, they do want to engage seriously to try and find a way through to try and get a pragmatic outcome," he told ITV News.

Asked about claims that Brussels negotiators were being bugged by British spies, he said, "Foreign secretaries never comment on such matters but you are a journalist and you don't have any trouble finding out what is going on in those meetings, just like you have no problems in finding out what's happening in our London meetings."