BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Negotiators from the UK and EU are having what has been described as “intense technical discussions” in an attempt to agree a new Brexit deal.
About a dozen British officials, including the UK’s EU adviser David Frost, are taking part in the talks at the EU Commission in Brussels.
The weekend’s talks in Brussels follow a meeting on Friday between Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, described by both sides as “constructive”.
In a statement issued later, the European Commission said: “The EU and the UK have agreed to intensify discussions over the coming days.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan reiterated that “lots of details” needed to be worked out between both parties but said the “mood music” on negotiations “seems positive”.
She added that “speculation doesn’t really help” and politicians needed to “stand back and give those negotiations and discussions the best chance of succeeding”.
European Council President Donald Tusk has suggested there is only the slightest chance of an agreement.
Tusk said he had received “promising signals”, before adding: “Of course there is no guarantee of success and time is practically up, but even the slightest chance must be used”.
The UK is due to leave the EU on Oct 31 and a European leaders’ summit on Thursday and Friday is seen as the last chance to agree a deal before that deadline.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s revised proposals – designed to avoid concerns about hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit – were criticised by EU leaders at the start of last week.
Johnson and the Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar held talks on Thursday and said they could “see a pathway to a possible deal”.
Meanwhile, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer says Labour would take action through the courts if Johnson tries to push through a no-deal Brexit.
Addressing the Co-operative Party conference in Glasgow, Sir Keir said if the PM did not secure a deal at the EU summit on Oct 17-18, he must comply with the so-called Benn Act passed by MPs in September, which requires him to seek a further delay.
“If he doesn’t, we’ll enforce the law – in the courts and in Parliament. Whatever it takes, we will prevent a no-deal Brexit,” he said.
Johnson acknowledged there was not “a done deal”, saying: “The best thing we can do now is let our negotiators get on with it.” — NNN-AGENCIES
