• United Kingdom: The toxic Glossary of Brexit

The pro-British Unionist Democratic Party of Northern Ireland (DUP), key to reaching an agreement on Brexit, said Thursday that it "cannot accept" the pact that the United Kingdom negotiates with the European Union.

The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster , has issued a statement expressing reservations about what is being negotiated in customs matters for Northern Ireland, hours before the vital European summit, in which the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, He expected to close a negotiated exit from his EU country on October 31.

The border between the two Irlandas is the most complicated issue of the Brexit negotiations, since the objective is to avoid establishing a border infrastructure so as not to harm the peace process of the British province.

The conservative prime minister, having no parliamentary majority, needs the support of the DUP if he wants to ensure that any agreement he seals with Brussels can be approved by the House of Commons of the Westminster Parliament.

"We have participated in continuous conversations with the Government. As things stand, we could not accept what is being suggested about customs and other issues about consent, and there is a lack of clarity about VAT," the note emphasizes.

However, the statement, signed by Foster and the "number two" of the formation, Nigel Dodds, said that "they will continue working with the Government to try to obtain a sensible agreement that works for Northern Ireland and can protect economic integrity and constitutional of the United Kingdom ".

In recent days, Johnson had intense negotiations with Foster to find a way to overcome the most difficult points, although the details of what is being negotiated have not been disclosed.

According to the media, the "premier" has proposed that the entire United Kingdom leave the customs union but that Northern Ireland keep customs rules aligned with the EU in certain sectors, such as agriculture, and that it be granted to the Northern Irish communities - Unionists and nationalists - consent every four years on border arrangements after Brexit.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and other European leaders were optimistic yesterday about a Brexit agreement before the start of the European summit on Thursday.

In recent days, negotiations between London and Brussels had received a positive boost after the meeting Varadkar and Johnson held last Thursday in England.

Johnson has said he prefers to be "dead in a ditch" rather than asking for a delay of Brexit, but is bound by the so-called "Benn Law" to request it if there is no agreement for this Saturday.

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