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A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 16 OctOber 2019
EU: Brexit deal still possible this week but UK must act now

LUXEMBOURG (AP) — A Emmanuel Macron — one
Brexit divorce deal is still of the EU leaders most
possible ahead of this skeptical about Britain's in-
week's European Union tentions — to discuss where
summit, the bloc said Tues- elements of a compro-
day — but only if the British mise could be found. Slack
government makes more called the conversation
compromises to seal an "constructive."
agreement in the coming Irish Foreign Minister Simon
hours. Coveney, who had a long,
Even though many ques- intense talk with Barnier
tions remain, diplomats early Tuesday, said the EU
made it clear that both believes a deal "is difficult,
sides were for the first time but it is doable." He said
within touching distance Barnier addressed EU minis-
since an earlier U.K. with- ters and "did point to prog-
drawal plan fell apart in the ress in the last number of
British House of Commons days where the gaps have
in March. been narrowed."
Britain is scheduled to leave A senior German official
the EU on Oct. 31, and this wouldn't rule out a Brexit
week's EU leaders' meet- agreement in principle by
ing — the last scheduled Wednesday afternoon, but
summit before the Brexit stressed the importance of
deadline — was long con- European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, right, shakes hands with Irish Foreign Min- the specifics — and how
sidered the last opportu- ister Simon Coveney during a meeting of EU General Affairs ministers, Article 50, at the European time consuming they will
nity to approve a divorce Convention Center in Luxembourg, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. be to work out.
agreement. British Prime Associated Press "The basis for our decisions
Minister Boris Johnson insists are legal texts in which the
his country will leave at the challenge now is to turn the currently invisible border. an external EU frontier that details are settled," the of-
end of the month with or new British proposals on the A frictionless border under- the bloc wants to keep se- ficial, who briefed reporters
without an agreement, but complex Irish border issue pins both the local econ- cure. on condition of anonym-
British lawmakers are deter- into something binding. EU omy and the 1998 peace Barnier said it's "high time ity in line with department
mined to avoid a no-deal member Ireland has a land accord that ended de- to turn good intentions into rules, said in Berlin. "But
Brexit. border with the U.K.'s North- cades of Catholic-Protes- a legal text." He wants a there has been progress,
EU Brexit negotiator Michel ern Ireland, and both want tant violence in Northern clear answer by Wednes- and as always in these
Barnier said at a meeting of to keep goods and people Ireland. But once Britain ex- day morning, so EU capitals negotiations the biggest
EU ministers that the main flowing freely across the its, that border will turn into can prepare for the bloc's progress happens over the
two-day summit that be- final meters."
gins Thursday. Late Monday, Dutch For-
"Even if an agreement will eign Minister Stef Blok said
be difficult — more and the British proposals to keep
more difficult, we think — the Irish border protected
it is still possible this week," from smuggling and fraud
Barnier said. once it leaves the bloc
The big question is how far were insufficient.
Johnson's government is "The U.K. proposal con-
prepared to budge on its tained some steps forward
insistence that the U.K., in- but not enough to guaran-
cluding Northern Ireland, tee that the internal mar-
must leave the European ket will be protected," Blok
Union's customs union — said.
something that would re- EU ministers insisted it was
quire checks on goods Johnson's turn to make
passing between the Brit- the next move — and he
ain and the EU, including seemed to be listening. In
on the island of Ireland. addition to the call with
The government has given Macron, Johnson shifted
away little detail of the pro- Britain's weekly Cabinet
posals it has made to the meeting from Tuesday to
EU to remove that require- Wednesday, so he could
ment. give his ministers a better
Johnson's spokesman, idea of Brexit progress.
James Slack, rejected sug- If talks fail or stumble
gestions Britain had only ahead of the EU summit,
until the end of the day to there could always be an
firm up its proposals but said extraordinary meeting just
"the prime minister is aware ahead of the Oct. 31 Brexit
of the time constraints that departure — or the Brexit
we are under." deadline could be extend-
On Tuesday, Johnson ed again. It has already
called French President been postponed twice.q