Brexit negotiations: EU chief negotiator still sees opportunities for a deal

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

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Time is running out. But a Brexit agreement with Britain is possible this week, according to EU negotiator Michel Barnier. However, a compromise will become increasingly difficult over time, Barnier said on Tuesday before a meeting of EU ministers responsible in Luxembourg.

An agreement must work for everyone, both across the UK and across the European Union. "It's high time to put good intentions into a legal text," said Barnier.

The British newspaper "Guardian" reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would probably have a better chance of getting a Brexit deal from the lower house than his predecessor Theresa May. There are signs that Eurosceptics who had spoken out against them in recent months could agree with a deal now. Also because they were worried about a second referendum. In addition, some Labor MPs might agree to an agreement for fear of an unregulated Brexit.

A deal is scheduled for the EU summit later this week

For a few days now, both the EU and the UK government have been demonstratively hopeful. There are rumors circulating: London has allegedly admitted to a Northern Irish special status, the highly controversial backstop (read more here) but was off the table. From official side but you hear so far nothing.

The Irish broadcaster RTE reported that Britain would submit new proposals to the European Commission this Tuesday in Brussels to break the deadlock in the talks. Two well-informed insiders said that, wrote an RTE reporter on Twitter. This message has not been confirmed yet.

Breaking: the UK wants to table fresh proposals to break the Brexit deadlock this morning, @rtenews understands

Michael Roth (SPD), Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, said he was "not quite sure" if an agreement with Great Britain was imminent.

A deal with the UK should be at the latest at the EU summit later this week. Otherwise, it is likely that the deadline will be extended again. It is negotiating a change to the 2018 agreed withdrawal agreement. This regulates the most important issues of separation and provides for a transitional period until the end of 2020 after Brexit, in which practically nothing would change.

Chaos right after the exit should be avoided with the contract. Not only the British lower house, but also the European Parliament would have to approve the agreement before the end of October.