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Brexit deal within reach by next week - chief EU negotiator Barnier Brexit deal within reach by next week – chief EU negotiator Barnier
(35 minutes later)
Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator has said that a Brexit deal between the UK and EU was within reach by next Wednesday, in Brussels, Wednesday, at the European Parliament. A Brexit deal between the UK and European Union is within reach by next Wednesday, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said.
The negotiator stated that, following negotiations with his UK counterparts, 80-85% of the Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed.  Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, the negotiator said that 80 to 85 percent of the agreement providing for Britain’s withdrawal had been settled following talks with his UK counterparts.
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Barnier confirmed that the UK is set to leave both the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market. Outlining the current state of Brexit negotiations, Barnier stated there must be checks on goods between the EU and UK
In relation to Ireland he insisted that these customs and compliance checks cannot be carried out at the Irish-Northern Irish border, maintaining that the EU respects the UK’s constitutional integrity. Barnier confirmed that the UK is set to leave both the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market. Outlining the current state of Brexit negotiations, he stated there must be checks on goods between the EU and UK.
Barnier did however reveal that the EU was still open to the idea of keeping the customs union with the UK to forgo the need for any customs checks. In relation to Ireland, he insisted that these customs and compliance checks cannot be carried out at the Northern Ireland border, maintaining that the EU respects the UK’s constitutional integrity.
Barnier told European lawmakers: “We are doing our best to reach a deal... a lot of the Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed.. 80-85% for the moment, however difficult issues left until the end... governance (ie ECJ) geographical indicators and Ireland.” Barnier did, however, reveal that the EU was still open to the idea of keeping the Customs Union with the UK in order to forgo the need for any border checks.
He claimed Theresa May's Chequers plan which would see the UK stay in the single market for goods, but opt out of regulations affecting production was problematic. This he said would create an à la carte single market system that would give the UK a “huge competitive edge” over EU companies. He told European lawmakers: “We are doing our best to reach a deal... a lot of the withdrawal agreement has been agreed. 80 to 85 percent for the moment, however difficult issues left until the end... governance (ie ECJ) geographical indicators and Ireland.”
He finished on a personal note, conceding that for him, Brexit is a pity and “brings no added value. It is a negative negotiation. It is a lose, lose game." He said that Theresa May’s Chequers plan, which would see the UK stay in the single market for goods but opt out of regulations affecting production, was problematic. This would create an a-la-carte single market system that would give the UK a “huge competitive edge” over EU companies.
He finished on a personal note, conceding that for him, Brexit is a pity and “brings no added value. It is a negative negotiation. It is a lose-lose game.”
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