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Brexit: UK in EU talks as Juncker says deal achievable Brexit: EU and UK 'share common purpose'
(34 minutes later)
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has held talks with the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has said the UK and EU share a "common purpose" in reaching a new withdrawal deal, after a meeting in Brussels with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.
The Brussels meeting followed European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker saying a new Brexit deal could still be reached before 31 October. He added that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker were "clear" that was what they wanted.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said some "progress" was being made, but it was important not to "exaggerate" this. The commission said it was "open" to proposals from the UK.
And Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said there was still a "wide gap" between the UK and the EU. The deadline for the UK to exit the EU is 31 October.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today that EU leaders were "still waiting for serious proposals" from the UK and, while the "mood music" had improved, they were "not close to that deal right now". On Thursday, Mr Juncker said a new Brexit deal could still be reached by then.
Ahead of the meeting in Brussels, Mr Barclay warned the EU against a "rigid" approach and suggested the final details of an alternative to the Irish backstop may not need to be resolved until the end of 2020. Mr Johnson said some "progress" was being made, although it was important not to "exaggerate" this.
The backstop is the controversial policy aimed at preventing the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit. But Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told the BBC on Friday that there was a "wide gap" between the UK and the EU, with Brussels "still waiting for serious proposals" from London.
The backstop - the policy aimed at preventing the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit - has proved the biggest point of contention in EU-UK talks so far,
It was a major sticking point in former Prime Minister Theresa May's attempts to get Parliament to back her withdrawal agreement, which was rejected three times by MPs.It was a major sticking point in former Prime Minister Theresa May's attempts to get Parliament to back her withdrawal agreement, which was rejected three times by MPs.
Mr Johnson, who has said he wants to leave the EU - preferably with a deal - by the current deadline of 31 October, has urged the EU to scrap the backstop.Mr Johnson, who has said he wants to leave the EU - preferably with a deal - by the current deadline of 31 October, has urged the EU to scrap the backstop.
The EU has asked for alternative proposals and had previously criticised the UK for not putting any plans in writing. But the EU has asked for detailed alternative proposals.
Mr Juncker told Sky News that he had no "emotional relationship" with the backstop, adding: "If the objectives are met - all of them - then we don't need the backstop." Following the latest meeting, Mr Barclay said: "We both want to see a deal."
He said his meeting with Mr Johnson in Luxembourg on Monday had been "rather positive", and "we can have a deal" in the next few weeks. He added that "a clear message has been given both by President Juncker and the prime minister".
The cautiously optimistic tone was shared by Mr Johnson, who said: "I don't want to exaggerate the progress that we are making, but we are making progress." Mr Barclay also said both sides were "working hard on that".
The prime minister 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". The European Commission issued a statement, saying Mr Barnier and Mr Barclay had discussed the "state of play" on Brexit.
It added: "It is essential that there is a fully workable and legally operational solution included in the withdrawal agreement. We remain willing and open to examine any such proposals that meet all the objectives of the backstop."
The prime minister has said the UK needs to leave in a way that allows 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 - which helped bring an end to the Troubles - was protected.But he also reiterated the need to ensure no hard border returned to Northern Ireland, and the Good Friday Agreement - which helped bring an end to the Troubles - was protected.
"We think we can do that," Mr Johnson said. "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."
However, Mr Coveney told Today the UK was asking the Republic of Ireland to replace the backstop with "a promise that somehow we'll do our best to solve this issue in the future but we don't know how just yet".
He said Ireland's position was to get a deal allowing the UK to leave the EU in an "orderly and sensible manner" but "we cannot allow Ireland to be the collateral damage to that".
"And I think for Britain to ask us to do that is a very unreasonable request and it won't be the basis of a deal," he added.
On Thursday, the UK government said confidential documents that "reflect the ideas the UK has put forward" on Brexit had been shared with the EU.On Thursday, the UK government said confidential documents that "reflect the ideas the UK has put forward" on Brexit had been shared with the EU.
This happened after Finland's prime minister said Mr Johnson had 12 days to set out his Brexit plans to the EU - although a government source said the development was not in response to those remarks.This happened after Finland's prime minister said Mr Johnson had 12 days to set out his Brexit plans to the EU - although a government source said the development was not in response to those remarks.
Mr Johnson will hold more talks with European leaders at a UN summit in New York next week.Mr Johnson will hold more talks with European leaders at a UN summit in New York next week.
Thursday saw the final day of the legal battle over Mr Johnson's decision to prorogue - suspend - Parliament at the UK's Supreme Court.Thursday saw the final day of the legal battle over Mr Johnson's decision to prorogue - suspend - Parliament at the UK's Supreme Court.
Its president, Lady Hale, promised a decision early next week.Its president, Lady Hale, promised a decision early next week.