The bloc’s chief negotiator said next summer will become a “moment of truth” for Boris Johnson, as the Prime Minister will be expected to make a choice between no-deal Brexit or extending the transition period. In a blow for the campaigning Conservative party, the Brussels bureaucrat poured cold water on Michael Gove’s pledge to cut ties with the EU by December 2020. Delivering a speech in Lisbon, Mr Barnier said: “I know this negotiation will be difficult and demanding, for one reason the time will be extremely short, 11 months if the transition period ends as currently foreseen.

“Summer 2020 in eight months will be the first moment of truth on how far we have come and whether extension of the transition will be needed.”

Mr Barnier told his audience that a new cliff edge will emerge when the proposed transitional period, during which Britain remains in the EU’s single market and customs union, comes to an end.

“As long as we have not completed negotiations with the UK the risk of a cliff edge remains and we should all remain vigilant,” he added.

Privately, the EU negotiator has told senior members of the European Parliament that he believes the future relationship will take “two to three years” to conclude.

Mr Barnier stressed that Mr Johnson’s move towards a basic free-trade agreement means negotiations will be more complicated because of the bloc’s red lines.

“Our starting points are not necessarily the same,” said Mr Barnier.

“On our side that the EU will require strong level playing field guarantees, the EU will not tolerate unfair economic competition.

“The UK should not think that zero tariff, zero quotas will be enough. The EU will insist on zero tariff, zero quotas and zero dumping.”

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