Hectic negotiations: Barnier considers British Brexit proposals inadequate

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

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According to information from diplomatic circles, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier considers the British proposals for a Brexit agreement insufficient. He needed an agreement on a legal text by the end of the day, so that he could recommend the EU summit on Thursday and Friday its adoption, it said. Otherwise, he would probably advise further talks with Britain after the summit. This is reported by the news agency Reuters.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told reporters that Barnier will try to reach a deal this evening. "Otherwise, we most likely need another EU summit this month," he said.

To reach a deal by 31 October, an agreement between the EU and the UK should be adopted at the EU summit later this week. Although both sides have been remarkably hopeful in recent days, there are still great doubts as to whether an agreement can be reached in this short time.

EU Council President does not believe in resolution before EU summit

Earlier in the morning, Barnier said he saw opportunities for an agreement by the end of the week. However, a compromise would become increasingly difficult over time, he said before a meeting of EU ministers responsible. Michael Roth, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, said he was "not sure" if an agreement with Great Britain was imminent. Current EU Council President Antti Rinne doubted that the EU and Britain would agree on a Brexit solution before the EU summit. "I think we need more time," he said.

Like Rinne, several EU ministers in Luxembourg felt that longer negotiations were needed. Thus, the Austrian Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in view of the withdrawal date 31 October: "We still have 16 days." Everyone has a common interest in avoiding unregulated Brexit. "I'm in good spirits." Dutch Minister Stef Blok said: "We should use the remaining time until 31 October." The British proposals have been progress but not enough to protect the single market.

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. One of the biggest issues is the so-called backstop, which is supposed to rule out a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland in any case. (Read more about it here).

Johnson needs a deal this week

Brexit Minister Barclay said in Luxembourg, "The talks are in progress, we need room for progress, but details are being talked about, and a deal is still very possible." A British government spokesman confirmed that new texts had been submitted. Johnson had talked about it at night with representatives of the Northern Irish Protestant DUP, reported the Irish channel RTÉ.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson actually needs a deal this week. If this does not succeed by Saturday, 19 October, the head of government will have to apply to the EU for an extension of the withdrawal period according to a British law. However, Johnson has time and again publicly committed to resign on October 31, with or without a contract.