Breakthrough in Brexit talks as EU gets green light for last ditch talks with UK
THERE has been first real sign of a breakthrough in the marathon Brexit negotiations aimed at prevent a disastrous ‘no-deal’ scenario.
This evening it has emerged the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been given the green light from the 27 member states to go into intense negotiations with the UK this weekend.
The announcement followed a meeting between Mr Barnier and the UK’s Brexit secretary Steve Barclay this morning.
The so called “tunnel” negotiations is a term used to describe intense talks which are limited to the negotiators with minimal feedback externally in a bid to allow the talks proceed unhampered by leaks.
A statement from the European Commission said “The EU and the UK have agreed to intensify discussions over the coming days.
“The EU’s position remains the same: there must be a legally operative solution in the Withdrawal Agreement that avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland, protects the all-island economy and the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all its dimensions, and safeguards the integrity of the Single Market.
“The Commission will take stock with the European Parliament and Member States again on Monday in view of preparing the General Affairs Council (Article 50) on Tuesday morning.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar earlier said he expected the British government to table more detailed proposals to break the Brexit impasse following Mr Barclay’s meeting with Mr Barnier in Brussels this morning.
