EU says: No Irish backstop, no deal
MICHEL Barnier warns there will be no Brexit deal unless the Irish border issue is resolved.
The EU’s chief negotiator said the problem of controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic is the biggest stumbling block towards an agreement in the autumn.
Under the “backstop” agreed in December, the UK stays in the EU’s customs union unless another solution can be found.
And Mr Barnier said: “This backstop is essential to conclude the negotiations.”
The EU is gearing up to end daylight saving time, the switch between summer and winter hours, after 80% of citizens in a survey backed the move.