BREAKING: EU and UK negotiators have agreed a text on how to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, which will form part of the Withdrawal Agreement, @rtenews understands
Two well-placed sources say the text was "stabilised" last night, around 9pm and then transmitted to Downing Street.
One source said the text is "as stable as it can be."
One source said the text is "as stable as it can be."
It's understood there is one overall backstop to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. It will be in the form of a UK-wide customs arrangement, but will have "deeper" provisions for Northern Ireland on the customs and regulatory side.
A senior source said it would be wrong to say negotiations were "concluded", and that there was still some "shuttling" between London and Brussels.
While the text is "stable" from a negotiators point of view, it will obviously have to get cabinet and then parliamentary approval.
A review mechanism is understood to be part of the text.
There may be provisions relating to Northern Ireland within the text and within annexes to take account of a scenario whereby the UK-wide customs arrangement does not sufficiently avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, @rtenews understands.
