By A meeting between the Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier held in Brussels has been successful with Uk and Irish PM’s Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar looking forward to a likely deal.
Talks were held between the two leaders yesterday and lasted for some time, but with both leaders reappearing from discussions looking future-facing, it is believed that negoatiations in Brussels can proceed.
Next week sees the EU summit which is likely to be the last attempt between the UK and the EU to garner a deal ahead of the UK leaving the EU on 31st October.
The UK is due to leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on 31 October.
Mr Barclay and Mr Barnier’s “technical” talks came ahead of a crunch EU summit on 17 and 18 October, which is seen as the last chance for the UK and the EU to agree a deal ahead of the Brexit deadline.
Although the details of the meeting are as yet unknown, and only speculation can suggest what gives and takes there may have been on either party’s side, the notion that Mr Johnson now has Mr Varadkar’s ear and is listening to proposals surrounding a deal is significant for the Brexit movement.
The Irish PM does however still wants assurances that there will be no customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
But what does Boris have planned for the border post-Brexit?
Northern Ireland are due to leave the EU after the UK, around early 2021
Some EU legislation, particularly regarding agricultural products, will still apply to N.I. but actual checks on these goods being largely reduced and not required at an actual ‘border’ itself.
With only 20 days until the Brexit deadline, Mr Johnson remains adamant that the UK will leave the EU whether a deal is made, or not.
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