Juncker confident with progress made on Brexit

The European Union and Britain will reach a deal on Brexit in November if they do not do so this month, European Commission president JeanClaude Juncker told Austrian newspapers.

Mr Juncker, whose optimism was echoed yesterday by European Council President Donald Tusk, said that the potential for a rapprochement had grown in recent days, confirming what diplomatic sources told Reuters.

EU Brexit negotiators believe a deal with Britain on leaving the bloc is “very close”, in a sign a compromise on a major sticking point – the future Irish border – might be close.

“We are not there yet. But our will to reach an understanding with the British government is unbroken,” Mr Juncker was quoted as saying by Der Standard and Der Falter. EU Brexit negotiators told ambassadors of the 27 states remaining in the bloc on Friday that there was no breakthrough on the Irish issue and much would depend on what the British bring to Brussels this week.

Britain is due to leave the EU in March, but talks on managing the split have stalled over differences on how to avoid border checks between EU member Ireland and Britain’s Northern Ireland province.

“We have to get away from this no-deal scenario. It wouldn’t be good for Britain or for the rest of the [European] Union,” Mr Juncker was quoted as saying.

Britain’s Brexit ministry said on Friday that there would be no new regulatory barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK unless the province’s executive agree.