EU says Brexit deal ‘within reach’ but work remains
BRUSSELS — The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator said Wednesday that an agreement on Britain’s exit “is within reach,” if negotiations make progress before a summit next week.
Michel Barnier said that up to 85 per cent of the work is done on the deal for the U.K’s departure and post-Brexit relationship with the EU, but the issue of ensuring a transparent border on the island of Ireland remains to be addressed.
He offered suggestions to make sure border checks are be kept to a minimum. Yet he also warned that some British proposals for future trade, as they stood, would give the U.K. too much of a competitive trade advantage.
With goodwill from both sides, he said an “agreement is within reach” as British Prime Minister Theresa May and her 27 counterparts in the bloc get ready to meet in Brussels on Oct. 17.