The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator has said that the bloc is ready to build an “unprecedented partnership” with the UK – but only if a legally operative backstop on the Irish border can be agreed.
Michel Barnier was speaking after his latest round of talks with UK Brexit Minister Dominic Raab in Brussels today.
Mr Barnier said the EU remains ready to build an ambitious new partnership on trade, cooperation, security, foreign policy and defence.
He again warned however that none of this will be possible unless a “detailed and legally operational backstop solution” on Ireland is included in the Withdrawal Agreement.
He noted that the British Prime Minister Theresa May has already agreed to this – as have “all EU Member States and institutions.”
“It is urgent to work on the text of an operational backstop,” he said.
“For that, I asked Dominic and his team to provide us with the data necessary for the technical work which we need to do now on the nature, location and modality of the controls that will be necessary.
“This backstop is critical to conclude the negotiations, because as I've already said, without a backstop, there is no agreement.”
Press point by @MichelBarnier, European Commission Chief Negotiator, and @DominicRaab, UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union #Article50 #Brexit https://t.co/l9jrli4Cul
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) August 31, 2018
Mr Raab said he remains "stubbornly optimistic" about reaching a deal – although he admitted the October deadline could be missed slightly.
“I am as confident, if not more confident, that we can reach a deal,” he said.
“With the good will, the ambition and the pragmatism on both sides there is a real opportunity here to grasp.
“On timing we are aiming for the October Council. There is a measure of leeway but that is what we are aiming for.
Asked whether it was no more or less likely that the deadline would be honoured he replied, “I am a negotiator not a gambler.”
EU leaders were supposed to sign off on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement at the next EU Summit on October 17th.
Mr Barnier said there was a "measure of flexibility" and insisted it would still be possible for a deal to be agreed if the process was delayed by a "few days or weeks."
Mr Barnier said the new internal security partnership with the UK would consist of four pillars
- The effective exchange of information
- The support for law enforcement cooperation
- Judicial cooperation in criminal matters
- An ambitious partnership to combat money laundering and terrorism financing
He said the elements are now in place for an agreement on extradition, the exchange of airline passenger data and the exchange of forensic and vehicular data.
Mr Barnier noted that the EU has already offered the UK “close cooperation” on the Galileo global navigation satellite system that is being created by the EU.
Yesterday the British Chancellor Philip Hammond committed £92m from the UK’s “Brexit readiness fund” to design a national alternative to Galileo.
Today, we are committing £92m from our Brexit readiness fund to design a national alternative to the EU’s Galileo satellite system.
We have a world-leading space sector and will do what it takes to support the jobs and expertise the UK needs.https://t.co/BAeByaMo04
— Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) August 29, 2018
