BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU countries have agreed to “intensify” Brexit talks with the UK over the next few days.
The development comes after a meeting in Brussels between Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, described by both sides as “constructive”.
But UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there was “a way to go” before a deal could be reached.
The UK is due to leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on Oct 31.
A European leaders’ summit next week is seen as the last chance to agree a deal before that deadline.
Johnson put forward revised proposals for a deal last week, designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
Speaking on Friday, he said there was not “a done deal”, adding: “The best thing we can do now is let our negotiators get on with it.”
In a statement, the European Commission said: “The EU and the UK have agreed to intensify discussions over the coming days.”
Leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party Arlene Foster said “anything that traps Northern Ireland in the EU, whether single market or customs union, as the rest of the UK leaves will not have our support – the prime minister is very mindful of that”.
Support from DUP MPs will be key to getting a deal through Parliament.
Following his “technical” discussion with Barclay in Brussels, Barnier told reporters: “Be patient.”
He added: “Brexit is like climbing a mountain. We need vigilance, determination and patience.”
Earlier this week, several senior EU figures played down the chances of Brexit happening with a deal agreed to by both sides.
But on Thursday, Johnson and Varadkar held a one-to-one discussion – described by both as “very positive and very promising”.
Varadkar said talks were at a “very sensitive stage” but he was now “convinced” the UK wanted a deal, adding: “I do see a pathway towards an agreement in the coming weeks.”
With less than three weeks to go until the Brexit deadline, Johnson continues to insist the UK will leave the EU with or without a deal at the end of the month.
That is despite the so-called Benn Act – passed by MPs last month – demanding he request a delay to the Article 50 deadline from the EU until January 2020 if a deal, or a no-deal exit, has not been approved by Parliament before Oct 19.
Should any new deal be reached between the EU and UK, it will still have to be approved by MPs, as well as the European Parliament.
MPs will be called to Parliament for a special Saturday sitting following next week’s EU summit, the first since 1982, when the House of Commons was summoned after the invasion of the Falkland Islands.
