Brexit negotiations complete before EU summit in mid-week

BRUSSELS / LONDON (Reuters) – The persistent problem of the border between Britain and Ireland has prevented a Brexit deal ahead of the EU summit this week as negotiators have acknowledged their defeat after marathon talks and a break for the next few days.

After negotiating with the British Secretary for Brexit, Dominic Raab, the EU negotiator said that they still could not bridge the gap between his "requests for support", asking Northern Ireland to stay in the EU Economic Zone if border controls with Ireland, an EU member, could revive the conflict. and London's rejection of any control of trade between the province and the British mainland.

Both parties want to end more than a year of talks by mid – November. This is giving the parliaments of London and Brussels the time to approve an agreement before Britain separates from the EU next March, plunging businesses and millions of ordinary citizens in a chaotic and expensive legal vacuum.

However, British Prime Minister Theresa May faces intense opposition to EU requests from members of her conservative party and allies in Northern Ireland, some of whom threaten to reject any deal they do not like in Parliament.

"Despite intense efforts, some key issues remain unresolved, including the support of Ireland and Northern Ireland to avoid a border too hard," commented Barnier after meeting in Brussels with Raab putting end to the days of negotiations between the vice-president of Barnier, Sabine Weyand, and Brexit de May. Lieutenant Oliver Robbins.

A spokesman for the UK government said progress had been made in some key areas. "However, there are still a number of unresolved backstop issues. The UK remains committed to making progress at the October European Council, "he said.

According to diplomats and EU officials, it follows that nothing is expected before the leaders of the 27 other EU Member States meeting in Brussels for Wednesday's dinner in order to meet the needs of the EU. hear Barnier inform them of the progress of the work.

Several said that there was little chance that the leaders would give Barnier new instructions. They noted that this is in May, which will join the leaders on Thursday morning, to break the stalemate in which it finds itself among its own allies and supporters.

"It seems that May is not supported by his cabinet behind the scenes," said a senior EU diplomat, who was briefed by Barnier.

The two sides had been discussing progress for a while, but many diplomats and officials in Brussels wondered if May could seem to be hearing so quickly. More days or even weeks of drama could strengthen his hand as both parties discuss preparations for a possible Brexit "without agreement".

The leaders were to decide Wednesday whether enough progress had been made to agree to hold another summit, scheduled for November 17 and 18, during which the treaty on an orderly British withdrawal and a looser document defining future relationships could be inked in.

It is unclear whether leaders will convene the November summit this week. At last May 's summit, particularly with French President Emmanuel Macron, they indicated that they would agree to meet only if it could show that it was close enough to allow them to meet. an agreement to make it worthwhile.

EU sources said the Barnier team had proposed a new drafting of a text on the backstop, pointing out that it could never be activated or for a limited time, and that Britain as a whole could remain under EU rules longer after its transition after the month of March. 2019. But until now, this has not met British reservations.

Both parties want to avoid further controls on what will become their only land border so as to avoid impeding trade on the island of Ireland and waking up tensions two decades after the conclusion. of a peace agreement after 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.

FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS

David Davis, who resigned as Brexit minister in July, accused the May government of accepting "the EU's statement on the Northern Irish border issue."

"This is one of the most fundamental decisions the government has made in modern times. It is time for cabinet members to exercise their collective authority, "said Davis, who had campaigned for Britain to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum in the Sunday Times.

Davis also asked May to abandon his proposal on Brexit, which involves staying in a free trade zone with the EU for goods.

Up to now, May has shown little appetite for changing tactics, trying to convince conservative lawmakers and opposition Labor to vote for any agreement based on her plan.

Even if it reaches a withdrawal agreement, it will have a hard time getting it passed by Parliament and runs the risk of meeting the opposition of the small party of Northern Ireland, which is supporting the minority government here against the government. Other laws, such as the budget.

"I fully understand the risks of a" not agree "but the dangers of a bad deal are greater," wrote Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, in the newspaper Belfast Telegraph.

"This security arrangement would not be temporary. It would be the permanent annexation of Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom and would always leave us subject to established rules in a place where we have nothing to say. "