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The UK can avoid a "no deal" Brexit, by agreeing a deal based on "the vision that has already been agreed", Matt Hancock has said.
Speaking on the day the fourth round of talks were concluded, the Health Secretary told the Downing Street briefing: "I very much hope that we avoid [a no deal] because our position is very reasonable.
"It's that any agreement we reach must reflect the fact that the UK is an independent sovereign state and we're working very hard and will accelerate the work to make progress in talks by the end of the year so that we can put into place the vision that has already been agreed between the UK and the EU which is based within the political declaration."
Earlier in the day, Michel Barnier said he was optimistic the next set of talks - which may be face-to-face for the first time since March - could see a breakthrough on Brexit talks, with hopes of "some common ground" by early autumn.
But there had been "no significant progress" in the latest round of talks, the EU's chief negotiator said during his Brussels briefing, accusing the UK of "backtracking" on commitments made in the political declaration.
But he added: "If we can maintain the mutual respect we have had until now, and remain serene and patient which we always have on the EU side, I believe in the course of the summer or beginning of the autumn we will be able to find common ground."
David Frost, the UK's chief negotiator, called for both sides to "intensify and accelerate our work" to meet the deadlines.
"For our part we are willing to work hard to see whether at least the outline of a balanced agreement, covering all issues, can be reached soon."
