PARIS/LONDON, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU will decide at the end of the week whether a Brexit deal is going to be possible, French President Emmanuel Macron has told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
In the telephone conversations, Macron said talks should now proceed swiftly to see if an agreement can “respect” EU principles.
Johnson said the EU should not be “lured” into thinking there will be a delay to Brexit beyond Oct 31.
However, a law requires him to request one if a deal is not agreed by Oct 19.
As part of a weekend talking to EU leaders, the prime minister told Macron over the phone he believes a deal can be achieved, but that the EU must match compromises made by the UK.
A French government official said Macron told Johnson “that the negotiations should continue swiftly with Michel Barnier’s team in coming days, in order to evaluate at the end of the week whether a deal is possible that respects European Union principles”.
The comments come ahead of a key few days of negotiations as both parties try to find a new agreement in time for a summit of European leaders on Oct 17-18.
Johnson’s Europe adviser, David Frost, is to hold further discussions with the European Commission, while Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will visit EU capitals.
Under the Benn Act, passed last month, the prime minister must write to the EU requesting a Brexit extension if no deal is signed off by Parliament by Oct 19, unless MPs agree to a no-deal Brexit.
Government papers submitted to a Scottish court said that Johnson will comply, despite his assertion that there will be “no more dither or delay”. — NNN-AGENCIES
