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London and Brussels intensify negotiations to break the deadlock. No guarantee of success, but the least chance must be seized, according to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk who gives the framework of what will be played during the weekend in Brussels. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar discusses a possible agreement by the end of the month on the safety net for Ireland, the yardstick at which Europeans will judge the chances of success of an agreement with London.
With our office in Brussels
The talks that started this Friday afternoon between the UK and the EU are described as intense or intensive, but in reality the real change is that there are finally negotiations. These have so far been only technical discussions or political contacts, but the Europeans have apparently decided that the positions of the British government are now a real negotiating position.
We will at least have tried, they say unofficially on the European side, with all the hope of building a new safety net for Ireland. The initial proposal of Boris Johnson would have evolved and this is the focus of these negotiations.
The idea of customs controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is the main stumbling block and the objective of the Europeans is to move them to the Irish Sea. This would also imply for London to renounce its desire to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union with Great Britain.
The weekend negotiations will be evaluated on Monday and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk warns that the time is almost over since it is the European summit of 17-18 October that will be able to anoint the new agreement possible.