BREXIT DEAL ‘DONE AND DUSTED’ IN WEEKS
A BREXIT deal is within reach and can be “done and dusted” by October, Government sources said last night.
The new optimism came after productive talks between Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
Brussels made significant concessions in a number of areas, including security and the Galileo project.
A senior source told the Daily Express there had been a “marked change of attitude” from EU negotiators, who had taken a much more “pragmatic” approach.
The source said: “There is a narrative that nothing will be agreed before November, but we believe we can get this done and dusted by October.”
EU negotiators are now said to be showing more flexibility on key issues behind the scenes.
The source said: “If they show the same imagination, energy and drive as we have brought to the table then we can get a deal done. We are seeing signs of that now.”
Theresa May could have a deal to put to Parliament after the European Council summit in October.
Recent reports suggested French President Emmanuel Macron has performed a U-turn on his approach to Brexit and started pushing for a compromise. Other member states have begun to fear the consequences of a “no deal” which could cost the EU £500billion.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, a much more positive Mr Barnier said: “We have, I think, all the necessary building bricks to build a close and effective relationship between the EU and the UK on a series of subjects which are very important for their citizens.”
And he repeated his pledge to build an “ambitious partnership without precedent” with the UK after Brexit.
Mr Barnier went on: “If we achieve what was in the March guidelines then you really do have a partnership with no precedent – a very ambitious free trade agreement and specific agreements in all sorts of areas of common interest.” He made it clear that the EU has retreated from its opposition to allowing Britain to share in the Galileo satnav project after Mrs May threatened to launch a rival if the UK was locked out.
He said he was determined to reach an agreement before the October deadline, although he said there would be “flexibility” for further negotiations.
Standing alongside Mr Raab, he said: “Week after week and step by step we are eliminating subjects, bones of contention. I’m determined we are going to find an agreement for an orderly withdrawal which is much better than the opposite.
“Dominic and I think it’s possible to reach that in October.”
Mr Raab said he wanted to continue “accelerating and intensifying” negotiations, adding: “We’re committed to resolving the deal by October and I am stubbornly optimistic a deal is within our reach.”
However, the Northern Ireland border remains a sticking point. Earlier Mr Barnier said a backstop arrangement was essential to conclude negotiations, stating: “With no backstop there will be no agreement.” He even described the issue as a “matter of some urgency”, adding that he had asked the Brexit Secretary to provide data on how the “necessary controls and checks take place”.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly said she will refuse to contemplate any deal that treats Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK. In the event of no-deal, the EU wants a backstop that would effectively create a border in the Irish Sea between the island of Ireland and mainland Great Britain.
The Government insists any backstop position should include the UK as a whole. Mr Raab said the Government “remained committed” to finding a solution.
He said: “On Northern Ireland we remain committed to continuing work on potential solutions, working with Michel and his team on some of the issues he’s raised.
“The solutions must be workable for the communities in Northern Ireland and in the Republic.”