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Irish border: New draft Brexit plan could break deadlock | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Negotiations are continuing into the night over a draft Brexit deal on the Irish border amid a fresh push to reach agreement. | |
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg has been told new wording has been discussed by the UK, EU and Ireland and shared with the Democratic Unionist Party. | |
But it is not yet thought to have been agreed by the DUP, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down. | |
Theresa May could travel to Brussels in the early hours if a deal is reached. | |
European Council President Donald Tusk is due to make a statement on Brexit at 0650 GMT on Friday, prompting speculation that a deal is close. | European Council President Donald Tusk is due to make a statement on Brexit at 0650 GMT on Friday, prompting speculation that a deal is close. |
European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas tweeted: "We are making progress, but not yet fully there," adding: "Tonight more than ever, stay tuned." | |
All sides want progress on the issue ahead of a crucial summit next week, so talks can move on to the future relationship between the UK and the EU after Brexit. | |
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg tweeted: | |
What happens to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been among the key sticking points in Brexit negotiations. | What happens to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been among the key sticking points in Brexit negotiations. |
On Monday, the DUP - whose support the UK prime minister needs to win key votes in Westminster - objected to draft plans drawn up by the UK and the EU. | |
They included aligning regulations in Northern Ireland with those in the Republic so as to avoid border checks. | |
The DUP insists it will not accept any agreement in which Northern Ireland was treated differently from the rest of the UK. | |
The Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, which is an EU member, wants a guarantee that there will be no hard border between it and Northern Ireland after Brexit. | |
The UK, which is due to leave the EU in March 2019, wants to open talks on a new free trade deal as soon as possible. | |
The EU will only agree to discuss this when it judges that enough progress has been made on the "separation issues" - the "divorce bill", expat citizens' rights and the Northern Ireland border - that have been the subject of negotiations so far. | |
So the UK is trying to settle the Northern Ireland border issue before EU leaders meet next week. |