EU presses UK to guarantee discounted university tuition fees for European students

Failure to agree lower fees for EU citizens studying in UK should delay prized food and drink deal, members say

• UK politics live – latest updates

The EU is seeking a firmer pledge from the British government to guarantee European students discounted rates on university tuition fees before a much-anticipated summit this month.

At a meeting of senior EU diplomats on Wednesday, at least six member states opposed delaying a deal on tuition fees until after the summit. Many believe a failure to reach an agreement should delay the highly prized food and drink deal to cut Brexit red tape coming into force.