Here’s a quick take on where we are: a draft text worked on last week, with buy in from EU + UK negotiators, included a UK-wide customs arrangement. That wd allow references to NI being part of the EU’s customs territory to be airbrushed out, to make it more palatable to the UK
However, the UK demand for the UK-wide backstop for customs to be time limited is still being fiercely resisted by Brussels and Dublin, who say the backstop must be “unless and until” something better comes along (Dublin also insists the UK signed up to that in Dec and March)
But there appear to be other reservations that the UK-wide backstop, being tucked into the Withdrawal Agreement, will give the UK a de facto competitive advantage this side of an FTA - the usual “level playing field” issues.
There was a sense at the Coreper meeting (EU ambassadors) that the chaos in Westminster has to be given time to work itself through, and for dust to settle. So, rushing a deal this weekend was seen as not a good idea..
But nor will member states want to wait too long for the next rendezvous. Bearing in mind Salzburg, which became a portentous landmark that grew in weight, I suspect they will fix another date to get the Withdrawal Agreement over the line that will be sooner rather than later.
