This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/11/michel-barnier-meets-brexit-secretary-after-uks-positive-talks-with-ireland

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Michel Barnier meets Brexit secretary after UK's 'positive' talks with Ireland Barnier meets Brexit secretary after 'positive' UK-Ireland talks
(32 minutes later)
Talks have opened between Michel Barnier and the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, over a possible “pathway to a deal”, with the EU’s chief negotiator under pressure to open fresh negotiations in Brussels. Talks have opened between Michel Barnier and the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, over a possible “pathway to a deal”, with the EU’s chief negotiator under pressure to reopen negotiations in Brussels.
The two men were meeting for a working breakfast in the European commission’s headquarters to discuss the implications of the “positive and constructive” discussions Thursday between Boris Johnson and the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The two men were meeting for a working breakfast in the European commission’s headquarters to discuss the implications of the “positive and constructive” discussions held on Thursday between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar.
The British government is keen to open so-called “tunnel” negotiations with the commission on the detail of a deal. The British government is keen to open “tunnel” negotiations with the commission on the detail of a deal.
If Barnier agrees with Varadkar that the substance of the “positive” meeting with Johnson on Thursday is “sufficient to allow negotiations to resume in Brussels”, it would be a major boost for the British government. If Barnier agrees with the Irish taoiseach that the substance of the meeting with the British prime minister was “sufficient to allow negotiations to resume in Brussels”, it would be a major boost for the UK government.
The key sticking points are two-fold: Downing Street’s insistence until now that there will be a customs border on the island of Ireland, and the mechanism for gaining democratic consent for Northern Ireland’s continued alignment with the EU’s single market in goods.The key sticking points are two-fold: Downing Street’s insistence until now that there will be a customs border on the island of Ireland, and the mechanism for gaining democratic consent for Northern Ireland’s continued alignment with the EU’s single market in goods.
Dublin has insisted it will not accept the extra checks and controls that would come from there being two customs territories. Dublin has insisted it will not accept the extra checks and controls that would result from there being two customs territories.
The UK’s proposals for consent are viewed as giving the DUP a unilateral veto over Northern Ireland’s alignment with the EU’s rules. The UK’s proposals for consent are viewed as giving the Democratic Unionist party a unilateral veto over Northern Ireland’s alignment with the EU’s rules.
Following the discussions between Varadkar and Johnson in a hotel in the Wirral, a joint statement suggested the two leaders could now “see a pathway to a possible deal”. After the discussions between Varadkar and Johnson in a hotel in Wirral, a joint statement suggested the two leaders could now “see a pathway to a possible deal”.
Hopes of securing a deal for sign-off by leaders at a summit next week had appeared all but dead until Wednesday, with talks between UK and EU officials stalled. Hopes of securing a deal for sign-off by EU leaders at a summit next week had appeared all but dead until Wednesday, with talks between UK and EU officials stalled.
British education secretary Gavin Williamson said the cabinet had been briefed on the Johnson-Varadkar meeting, but would not explain what concessions may have prompted the surprise optimism. “It does not benefit anyone to have a running commentary on live negotiations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said on Friday that the cabinet had been briefed on the Johnson-Varadkar meeting, but would not explain what concessions may have prompted the surprise optimism.
Johnson’s proposals for the Irish border after Brexit had been roundly savaged by Barnier, who played down any optimism during his address on Wednesday to the European parliament. “We’re not really in a position where we’re able to find an agreement,” he said. “I had a very nice briefing this morning which was very much appreciated … It does not benefit anyone to have a running commentary on live negotiations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Johnson’s proposals for the Irish border after Brexit had been roundly criticised by Barnier, who played down any optimism during his address on Wednesday to the European parliament. “We’re not really in a position where we’re able to find an agreement,” he said.
EU officials have expressed some scepticism about the sudden outbreak of optimism.EU officials have expressed some scepticism about the sudden outbreak of optimism.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said the cabinet had been briefed on the contents of the two prime ministers’ discussions in the Wirral, but he would not divulge any details. After Barnier’s meeting with Barclay, he will brief ambassadors of the EU27.
Williamson said: “I had a very nice briefing this morning which was very much appreciated… It does not benefit anyone to have a running commentary on live negotiations.” Should talks resume in earnest in Brussels, a meeting on Sunday between the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is seen as a second staging post to delivering a deal for EU leaders to agree on on Thursday.
Following Barnier’s breakfast meeting with Barclay, he will brief ambassadors of the EU27.
Should talks resume in earnest in Brussels, a meeting between the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Sunday is seen as a second staging post to delivering a deal for agreement of the leaders on 17 October.
BrexitBrexit
European UnionEuropean Union
EuropeEurope
Michel BarnierMichel Barnier
Stephen BarclayStephen Barclay
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content