LUXEMBOURG, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British and EU negotiators on Tuesday scrambled to put together a draft text for a Brexit deal with just two days to go before a key European summit.
Both sides voiced cautious optimism that an accord could be reached this week, though European ministers warned they would not let Britain use Northern Ireland as a back door to the single market.
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier told member states a legal text must be on the table by Wednesday morning at the latest if it is to be signed off by leaders at the EU summit starting Thursday, in time for a special sitting of the British parliament on Saturday.
European diplomats said London has already given ground on customs rules for Northern Ireland, but must go further quickly if a deal is to be done this month – allowing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to fulfil his pledge to lead Britain out on Oct 31.
“The negotiating teams have made progress but it has been slow and they will have to make significant progress today if there is to be a deal that Michel Barnier can report on tomorrow to the EU capitals in advance of the leaders’ summit,” Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney told reporters in Luxembourg.
As he arrived in Luxembourg to brief the other 27 EU states on the progress of the closed-door talks, Barnier struck a cautiously upbeat note.
“This work has been intense all along the weekend and yesterday because even if the agreement will be difficult – more and more difficult to be frank – it’s still possible this week,” Barnier told reporters.
“Obviously any agreement must work for everyone – the whole of the United Kingdom and the whole of the European Union. Let me add also that it is high time to turn good intentions into legal text.”
But EU sources insisted there was no “hard deadline” and talks could go on next week.
British Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay joined Barnier in Luxembourg in what was seen as a positive sign for progress in the talks – which have been shrouded in secrecy since the weekend as the two sides seek to avoid potentially damaging leaks.
“The talks are ongoing. We need to give them space to proceed but detailed conversations are under way and a deal is still very possible,” Barclay said as he arrived.
After weeks of gloom and growing fears Britain would crash out of the bloc with no divorce arrangements in place, the last few days have brought tentative hopes that an agreement can be reached.
If no deal is reached by Saturday, Johnson will fall foul of a British law demanding he ask the EU to postpone Brexit for a third time rather than risk a potentially disastrous “no deal” departure. — NNN-AGENCIES
