After meeting with Johnson: Irish Prime Minister considers Brexit agreement possible

A regulated EU exit of the British by the end of the month has become increasingly unlikely in recent weeks. Now British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar have a more conciliatory tone. At a joint meeting, the heads of government have come a solution in the Brexit dispute, according to own information after much closer.

He had a "very good, very positive and very promising meeting" with Johnson, Varadkar said after the two-hour talk near Liverpool. A deal until 31 October is still possible. The joint press statement by Johnson and Varadkar said more reluctantly: "They agreed that they could see a path to a potential deal," it said.

Varadkar warned at the same time that something else could go wrong. The biggest hurdle before a Brexit deal is the question of how to keep the border between Northern Ireland and EU neighbor Ireland open.

The border with Ireland remains the biggest issue

The head of the Irish government stressed that there should be no hard border between the Republic of Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland. The future design of the border between the EU Member Ireland and Northern Ireland is the biggest issue. (Read more about the so-called backstop here).

Originally, among others, French President Emmanuel Macronzum had called for at least a solution to the Irish issue, which has been controversial for years, until Friday this week. That was a prerequisite for a solution at the EU summit on 17 and 18 October. Despite this quasi-ultimatum, the UK expects the showdown but only at the summit itself.

These options are still in the Brexit negotiations

Brexit Negotiations Final Countdown

By October 19, Johnson is required by UK law to bring an agreement through parliament, otherwise he is required to request an extension of the Brexit deadline. Johnson himself repeatedly stressed that he wants to lead the United Kingdom from the EU on 31 October - if necessary even without a divorce agreement.

After the meeting in Liverpool, it was said that both Dublin and London wanted an agreement that would take into account the interests of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union.