The European Commission president has said he doesn't expect any breakthrough in Brexit talks with the UK Prime Minister later today.

Theresa May is travelling to Brussels for discussions with Jean-Claude Juncker.

Mrs May is trying to secure legal assurances on the Irish border backstop.

The EU has consistently warned that the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement – including the backstop – is not open for re-negotiation.

“I have great respect for Theresa May, for her courage and her assertiveness,” said Mr Juncker.

“We will have friendly talk tomorrow but I don’t expect a breakthrough.”

Brexit

He said none of the remaining EU 27 will stand in the UKs way if it asks for a Brexit delay – however, if that delay was to go beyond European Parliament elections at the end of May, Britain would have to take part in them.

Mrs May is reportedly aiming to get the go-ahead from Mr Juncker to put proposals to EU leaders at an EU-Arab League summit in Egypt next Sunday.

Mrs May sees the gathering in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh as an opportunity to discuss possibilities directly with her EU counterparts; however, the EU has repeatedly rebuffed UK attempts to circumvent its negotiating team – warning that the bloc is united in its approach to the talks.

Malthouse

The UK Government yesterday confirmed that the so-called 'Malthouse Compromise' - which aimed to replace the backstop with “technological solutions” aimed at avoiding customs checks on the border - could not be included within the Withdrawal Agreement.

Instead Mrs May will now seek legal assurances that the backstop will not permanently bind the UK into a customs union with the EU.

The plan would also have extended the transition period for an extra year until December 2021.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier rejected the plan after a meeting with UK Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay last week and yesterday, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond warned that it was clear the EU would not allow the plan to replace the backstop.

Backstop

However, he told a business dinner that the plan would remain on the table during negotiations on the future relationship – after Withdrawal Agreement is agreed.

“However promising as an alternative arrangement to avoid entering a backstop in the future, it is clear that the EU will not consider replacing the backstop with such an alternative arrangement now in order to address our immediate challenge,” he said.

"The details of this initiative are still evolving and would require significant changes to EU legislation and customs practices that would need to be negotiated with the EU member states and others who will be affected by them."

He said it was a "valuable” attempt at ensuring the backstop is never needed – and said work on it should continue apace during the transition period.

Solution

Mr Barclay said he was confident a solution to the impasse can be found.

“We are committed to securing a solution,” he said.

“It is in the country’s interest to secure a deal; to move forward with the certainty that the business community in particular is asking for.

“To safeguard what is in the deal in terms of EU citizen’s rights and also the rights of our nationals in the EU.”