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Brexit: UK shares confidential documents with EU | Brexit: UK shares confidential documents with EU |
(33 minutes later) | |
Confidential documents that "reflect the ideas the UK has put forward" on Brexit have been shared with the EU, the UK government has said. | Confidential documents that "reflect the ideas the UK has put forward" on Brexit have been shared with the EU, the UK government has said. |
Ministers will table "formal written solutions when we are ready" and not to an "artificial deadline", it added. | Ministers will table "formal written solutions when we are ready" and not to an "artificial deadline", it added. |
Boris Johnson said he did not want to "exaggerate progress" of negotiations, but some was being made. | Boris Johnson said he did not want to "exaggerate progress" of negotiations, but some was being made. |
It comes after Finland's prime minister said that Mr Johnson had 12 days to set out his Brexit plans to the EU. | It comes after Finland's prime minister said that Mr Johnson had 12 days to set out his Brexit plans to the EU. |
But a government source said the development was not in response to the remarks. | But a government source said the development was not in response to the remarks. |
Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has told Sky News that talks earlier this week with Mr Johnson were "rather positive" and that a deal could be reached in the next few weeks. | Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has told Sky News that talks earlier this week with Mr Johnson were "rather positive" and that a deal could be reached in the next few weeks. |
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he will try to get a deal with Mr Johnson when they meet at a UN summit in New York next week. | |
But his deputy, Simon Coveney, said there was "still a big gap" between what the UK government wanted and what Ireland and the EU needed, in terms of getting a deal. | |
The commission said it had received documents from the UK government and technical talks were taking place. | The commission said it had received documents from the UK government and technical talks were taking place. |
Chief spokesperson Mina Andreeva also confirmed there would be talks at a political level at a meeting on Friday between the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay. | Chief spokesperson Mina Andreeva also confirmed there would be talks at a political level at a meeting on Friday between the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay. |
The technical discussions were on some aspects of rules relating to customs and manufactured goods, as well as sanitary rules and phytosanitary rules - which relate to the health of plants - she said. | The technical discussions were on some aspects of rules relating to customs and manufactured goods, as well as sanitary rules and phytosanitary rules - which relate to the health of plants - she said. |
The BBC also understands "live discussions" are taking place between the EU and UK about ruling out another delay to Brexit if a deal is agreed. | The BBC also understands "live discussions" are taking place between the EU and UK about ruling out another delay to Brexit if a deal is agreed. |
Choice for MPs | Choice for MPs |
Sources told BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg that, if a plan is signed off by both sides, the EU could then announce it would not grant an extension to 31 October deadline if MPs voted the deal down - essentially giving them a choice between the negotiated deal or a no-deal Brexit. | Sources told BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg that, if a plan is signed off by both sides, the EU could then announce it would not grant an extension to 31 October deadline if MPs voted the deal down - essentially giving them a choice between the negotiated deal or a no-deal Brexit. |
Other sources on the EU and UK sides played down the possibility, denying there had been any formal consideration of the proposal and saying the current focus was on getting a deal. | Other sources on the EU and UK sides played down the possibility, denying there had been any formal consideration of the proposal and saying the current focus was on getting a deal. |
But Laura Kuenssberg said: "It's clear that government officials are considering ways of sticking to the prime minister's October deadline, with, or without a deal being reached." | But Laura Kuenssberg said: "It's clear that government officials are considering ways of sticking to the prime minister's October deadline, with, or without a deal being reached." |
Mr Johnson has said he wants to leave the EU, preferably with a deal, on 31 October and has urged the EU to scrap the backstop in the withdrawal agreement reached by predecessor Theresa May. | Mr Johnson has said he wants to leave the EU, preferably with a deal, on 31 October and has urged the EU to scrap the backstop in the withdrawal agreement reached by predecessor Theresa May. |
The backstop is the controversial policy aimed at preventing the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland and it was a key sticking point in Mrs May's attempts to get Parliament to back her plan. | The backstop is the controversial policy aimed at preventing the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland and it was a key sticking point in Mrs May's attempts to get Parliament to back her plan. |
The EU has asked for alternative suggestions and had criticised the UK for not putting any plans in writing. | The EU has asked for alternative suggestions and had criticised the UK for not putting any plans in writing. |
Mr Juncker told Sky News that the EU did not "need the backstop" if all its objectives for the Irish border were met. | Mr Juncker told Sky News that the EU did not "need the backstop" if all its objectives for the Irish border were met. |
He added that "if the results are there, I don't care about the instruments". | He added that "if the results are there, I don't care about the instruments". |
Mr Johnson said: "I don't want to exaggerate the progress that we are making, but we are making progress." | Mr Johnson said: "I don't want to exaggerate the progress that we are making, but we are making progress." |
He said the UK needed to leave in a way that allowed it to "do things differently" and "not remain under the control of the EU in terms of laws and trade policy". | He said the UK needed to leave in a way that allowed it to "do things differently" and "not remain under the control of the EU in terms of laws and trade policy". |
But he also reiterated the need to ensure no hard border returned to Northern Ireland, and the Good Friday Agreement was protected. | But he also reiterated the need to ensure no hard border returned to Northern Ireland, and the Good Friday Agreement was protected. |
"We think we can do that," said the PM. "We think we can solve that problem and I think we are making some progress." | "We think we can do that," said the PM. "We think we can solve that problem and I think we are making some progress." |
He added: "Let's see where we get. It is vital whatever happens that we prepare for no-deal and we will be ready for no-deal on 31 October. We have got to do both things at once." | He added: "Let's see where we get. It is vital whatever happens that we prepare for no-deal and we will be ready for no-deal on 31 October. We have got to do both things at once." |
Earlier, Mr Rinne said he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed the UK needed to produce the proposals in writing by the end of September, adding if not, "then it's over". | Earlier, Mr Rinne said he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed the UK needed to produce the proposals in writing by the end of September, adding if not, "then it's over". |
Finland currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. | Finland currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. |
A French government official said the deadline was "not at all a new proposal" and added: "If we don't get the proposals before the end of September, we will not have enough time to discuss them before the summit in October." | A French government official said the deadline was "not at all a new proposal" and added: "If we don't get the proposals before the end of September, we will not have enough time to discuss them before the summit in October." |
The sending of the documents to the EU comes as the legal battle over the suspension of the UK Parliament is in its third day at the UK's Supreme Court. | The sending of the documents to the EU comes as the legal battle over the suspension of the UK Parliament is in its third day at the UK's Supreme Court. |
The UK government is arguing the decision to prorogue Parliament was a political matter and not for the courts to "design a set of rules" around it. | The UK government is arguing the decision to prorogue Parliament was a political matter and not for the courts to "design a set of rules" around it. |
But campaigners say the move was used "for an improper purpose" - to stop MPs scrutinising Mr Johnson's plans in the run up to Brexit on 31 October. | But campaigners say the move was used "for an improper purpose" - to stop MPs scrutinising Mr Johnson's plans in the run up to Brexit on 31 October. |
The prime minister prorogued Parliament earlier this month for five weeks, with MPs not scheduled to return until 14 October. | The prime minister prorogued Parliament earlier this month for five weeks, with MPs not scheduled to return until 14 October. |