The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, crossed the newswires in the last hour to deliver the remarks seen below.
- EU leaders meeting in October to be ‘moment of truth’.
- Two issues still outstanding, must make headway on issue of Ireland.
- Ready to improve EU proposal on Irish backstop.
- Need fully operational backstop that would protect integrity of EU single market.
- Irish backstop would only apply until better solution found.
- Will see if a Brexit agreement is ‘within reach’ in October.
- Irish backstop must be legally operational and respect UK constitutional integrity.
- Working to improve proposal on Irish border backstop after Brexit.
- New Irish backstop proposal will be about ‘set of technical checks and controls’, not about sea or land border.