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Leo Varadkar to meet EU leaders for Brexit talks on Irish border Leo Varadkar to meet EU leaders for Brexit talks on Irish border
(35 minutes later)
Ireland’s prime minister is to meet EU leaders in Brussels as Brexit negotiators look to break the deadlock over the Irish border.Ireland’s prime minister is to meet EU leaders in Brussels as Brexit negotiators look to break the deadlock over the Irish border.
As Brexit talks enter a crucial phase, Leo Varadkar will meet the European council president, Donald Tusk, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and members of the European parliament. Leo Varadkar will meet the European council president, Donald Tusk, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and members of the European parliament.
The meeting comes amid a growing sense that the gap between the British and the Irish over the “backstop” – a fallback plan to prevent a hard border returning to the island of Ireland – could be closing, with Theresa May prepared to accept some checks on goods travelling between Britain and Ireland, but away from a border.  There is a growing sense that the gap between the British and the Irish over the “backstop” – a fallback plan to prevent the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland – could be closing, with Theresa May prepared to accept some checks on goods travelling between Britain and Ireland, but away from the border.
The DUP threatened to pull the plug on May and vote against a deal that would place a border in the Irish sea, but sources say all efforts are being concentrated on persuading opponents that these checks would not be in the “Irish sea”.  The DUP threatened to pull the plug on May and vote against a deal that would place a border in the Irish Sea, but sources say all efforts are being concentrated on persuading opponents that these checks would not be in the “Irish Sea”.
“A lot of this is about language: if the checks are not being done, for example in transit, on vessels, this is not the border,” said a Dublin source. “A lot of this is about language: if the checks are not being done, for example, in transit, on vessels, this is not the border,” said a Dublin source.
The taoiseach can expect a show of support from EU politicians, who have long insisted there will be no Brexit divorce deal without agreement on the Irish border. The meetings are also a chance for the EU to assess next moves on the biggest obstacle to a deal before a make-or-break EU summit on 17-18 October.The taoiseach can expect a show of support from EU politicians, who have long insisted there will be no Brexit divorce deal without agreement on the Irish border. The meetings are also a chance for the EU to assess next moves on the biggest obstacle to a deal before a make-or-break EU summit on 17-18 October.
British and European officials are redrafting rival versions of the backstop, which would swing into place if the two sides fail to resolve the issue through a future trading agreement – the UK’s preferred option.British and European officials are redrafting rival versions of the backstop, which would swing into place if the two sides fail to resolve the issue through a future trading agreement – the UK’s preferred option.
Well-placed sources say the EU’s new text for the backstop will be “substantially different” from the March one, which incensed Theresa May by tying Northern Ireland indefinitely to the EU customs union and single marketin the event of no other agreement. Well-placed sources say the EU’s new text for the backstop will be “substantially different” from the March one, which incensed May by tying Northern Ireland indefinitely to the EU customs union and single marketin the event of no other agreement.
In an attempt to “dedramatise” the issue, the EU has revised its backstop plan, so customs, VAT and market-standards checks could be done at company premises or via trusted-trader schemes, therefore making the presence of EU law in Northern Ireland less obvious. In an attempt to “dedramatise” the issue, the EU has revised its backstop plan so that customs, VAT and market-standards checks could be done at company premises or via trusted-trader schemes, therefore making the presence of EU law in Northern Ireland less obvious.
However the EU will not compromise on checks on animals, food and plants, fearing the bloc’s safety and welfare standards could be diluted. Northern Ireland would therefore be required to sign up to some EU single market rules and the EU customs union. However, the EU will not compromise on checks on animals, food and plants, fearing the bloc’s safety and welfare standards could be diluted. Northern Ireland would therefore be required to sign up to some EU single market rules and the EU customs union.
Officials are also working to “improve” the link between the backstop and future trade deal, in an attempt to convince the British the backstop would never be activated.Officials are also working to “improve” the link between the backstop and future trade deal, in an attempt to convince the British the backstop would never be activated.
The British are also revising their backstop plan, with the Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, expected in Brussels in the coming days to present the new offer.The British are also revising their backstop plan, with the Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, expected in Brussels in the coming days to present the new offer.
In a sign that there are hopes of a breakthrough to end the impasse, there are expectations in Dublin that the much-anticipated British text will drop its requirement that the backstop is time-limited.In a sign that there are hopes of a breakthrough to end the impasse, there are expectations in Dublin that the much-anticipated British text will drop its requirement that the backstop is time-limited.
The UK backstop plan outlined in June would see the whole UK remain aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time. But the EU wants a Northern Ireland-only backstop and deems the time limit unacceptable. The UK backstop plan outlined in June would see the whole of the UK remain aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time. But the EU wants a Northern Ireland-only backstop and deems the time limit unacceptable.
Sources have told the Irish Times that the British will switch to an “event-limited” backstop, which would only expire on agreement between the EU and the UK on a future trading relationship that maintained the open border.Sources have told the Irish Times that the British will switch to an “event-limited” backstop, which would only expire on agreement between the EU and the UK on a future trading relationship that maintained the open border.
BrexitBrexit
Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar
IrelandIreland
European UnionEuropean Union
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
EuropeEurope
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