British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to meet his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Thursday for what the two sides have billed as private talks on how to handle the post-Brexit Irish border.
In a video message via Twitter on Wednesday, Johnson said he was “still cautiously optimistic” about reaching a deal with Brussels, despite Downing Street sources suggesting earlier that negotiations were close to collapse.
On Friday, EU member states are expected to weigh up any progress in the lunchtime talks between Johnson and Varadkar, which will reportedly take place at a secret location in north-western England.
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If there is little movement, EU leaders are likely to prepare for the possibility of a new Brexit delay.
Johnson has ruled out any delay, insisting that Britain will leave the EU on October 31, with or without an exit deal.
The differences will come to a head at or before next week’s EU summit, at which both sides had hoped to conclude a deal.
Last week, Johnson submitted proposals for an alternative to the Irish backstop arrangements that form part of the existing withdrawal deal, but EU officials remain unconvinced, following several rounds of technical talks in Brussels in recent days.
Three key problems for Brussels relate to: an absence of credible goods checks along the Irish border under Britain’s plan; the need for a legally binding, operational solution; and Britain’s wish to give a veto to Northern Ireland’s devolved assembly, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday. (NAN)
