Hopes of Brexit breakthrough rise as Johnson and Varadkar identify 'pathway to possible deal'
2 min read
Hopes of a breakthrough in the Brexit talks have risen after Boris Johson and Leo Varadkar identified "a pathway to a possible deal".
The Prime Minister and Taoiseach held "detailed and constructive" talks in The Wirral, Merseyside, as the EU and UK seek a fresh agreement ahead of the 31 October Brexit deadline.
Mr Johnson tabled fresh proposals last week aimed at replacing the controversial backstop while maintaining an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Senior EU officials - and the Irish government - have all dismissed the plans, which would have involved customs checks away from the border.
But with just a week to go until a crunch EU summit in Brussels, the talks between the PM and Mr Varadkar appear to have gone some way to bridging the gap between the two sides.
A joint statement said: "Both continue to believe that a deal is in everybody’s interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal.
"Their discussion concentrated on the challenges of customs and consent. They also discussed the potential to strengthen bilateral relations, including on Northern Ireland .
"They agreed to reflect further on their discussions and that officials would continue to engage intensively on them."
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will hold further talks with Michel Barnier, the EU's top Brexit negotiator, on Friday as the search for a new deal continues.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Barnier said: "To put things very frankly, though, and to try and be objective, at this particular point, we are not really in a position where we are able to find an agreement."
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