EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier says ‘no solution’ for now to break the Brexit deadlock
- Spokesman says talks on Tuesday were ‘difficult’, but took place in a ‘constructive atmosphere’
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Wednesday “no solution” has been found so far to break the deadlock over Brexit, a spokesman reported after the latest negotiations in Brussels.
Briefing the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, Barnier said the talks “have been difficult”, spokesman Margaritis Schinas said following the four hours of negotiations on Tuesday.
Barnier informed the commissioners that “no solution has been identified at this point that is consistent with the withdrawal agreement”, which the EU agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May in November.
Barnier said the discussions have nonetheless taken place in a “constructive atmosphere”, speaking the day after he held the latest round of talks with UK attorney general Geoffrey Cox and Brexit minister Stephen Barclay.
Barnier confirmed the two sides were still stuck on the so-called “backstop”, aimed at keeping open the border between EU member Ireland and British Northern Ireland.