British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Irish colleague Leo Varadkar see a joint statement as a „path“ for a possible Brexit agreement. Both sides considered that such an agreement was in the general interest, the statement said at a meeting of Johnson and Varadkar yesterday on the Thornton estate near Liverpool was published.
Varadkar said a deal was „possible until the 31st of October“ after the „promising meeting“ with Johnson. The meeting in northwest England was announced by Downing Street as „private“. The two heads of government „and their teams“ should have time for „in-depth talks,“ it said.
Also „challenge of customs“ topic
The United Kingdom is expected to leave the EU on October 31, under previous agreements. If necessary, Johnson wants to leave the country without an agreement. The talks between London and Brussels on Brexit on the basis of an agreement are difficult, and in particular there has been no solution to the question of border controls between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The talks on the estate also dealt with the „challenge of customs“, the joint statement said. Varadkar will discuss the results with the EU.
If an agreement is reached, it should be decided at the EU summit on 17 and 18 October. The British industry association CBI demanded at the meeting of the heads of government, both sides should „use all energy to a compromise“. Britain’s Brexit minister Steve Barclay plans to meet with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Friday to discuss how to proceed.
