European affairs minister Michael Roth accused Boris Johnson’s negotiating team rowing back on previous agreements with the bloc. Berlin is “disappointed that London is shifting further and further away from the Political Declaration agreed between us as a reliable basis for the negotiations,” he fumed. “I would like those responsible in London to be more realistic and pragmatic.”

The wrangling over a free-trade agreement has broken up for a short summer break without any significant breakthroughs.

The UK and EU are still yet to find agreements on key issues such as the regulatory level-playing field and future access to Britain’s fishing grounds.

Michel Barnier, the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator, will host his UK counterpart David Frost on August 17 in Brussels for the next round of trade talks.