Brexit negotiations: waiting for the turning point

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

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In the deadlocked Brexit negotiations, a meeting of EU and UK negotiators has not made any significant progress. EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay talked about ways to avoid a hard line in Ireland, the EU Commission said after the meeting in Brussels. It should give further discussions on expert level. Barclay said a deal was possible.

On Thursday, after a long period of stagnation, negotiations began on the orderly withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU. The UK government put forward proposals to prevent the reintroduction of strict border controls between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejects the approach hitherto provided for in the exit agreement - the extension of the EU Customs Union to the entire country.

In this point, it absolutely needed a "functioning and legally binding solution" in the exit pact, the EU Commission said. Be open and willing to consider any such proposal that fully complies with Ireland's solution.

KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / POOL / EPA-EFE / REX

EU negotiator Barnier: "working and legally binding solution"

According to a report in the "Financial Times" Johnson already dampened the expectations of the familiar. He does not expect to be able to complete a fully-fledged, "legally viable" alternative solution to the Irish border by the time of the EU summit in mid-October.

Even after the new proposals from London, Ireland does not see the Brexit talks at a turning point. The mood has improved, said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in the BBC radio program. This is certainly the recent visit of Johnson in Dublin responsible. "But we have to be honest with the citizens and make them understand that we are not about to make a breakthrough." Both sides wanted a common solution for a British EU exit. "We are still waiting for serious proposals from the British government."

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