Thread by @JenniferMerode

Brexit latest: Michel Barnier has told EU27 ambassadors it is "difficult" to see a deal emerging in the next ten days unless the British “fundamentally amend their position”.
1.

Brexit talks are now entering the critical fortnight leading to the European council (again).

Scepticism about a breakthrough is sky high, but the EU is not going to flatly reject Boris Johnson's proposals.
2.

Barnier has been tasked by member states to find out if the UK gov has any room for manoeuvre. This is agenda point number one for talks with David Frost on Friday.

UK flexibility to be tested in coming days, says EU diplomat.
"This has to happen quickly".
3

3. Ambassadors glad UK has moved - all Ireland regulatory zone for agrifood and manufactured goods - but optimism limited.

The EU has serious problems 1. Customs 2. Stormont lock 3 Proposals seen as failing to protect peace and all-Ireland economy. As per BSG.
4.

Barnier was cold about Boris Johnson’s description of customs as “technicalities”.

For the EU that is exactly what it is not. He spent some time in meeting stressing that peace and all-Ireland economy at stake.

5.

Barnier told ambassadors he had been given a mandate to come up with “legally operable solutions” but said not clear anything of the kind in the UK's customs and VAT proposals.
6.

Extending A50 was not discussed.

It wasn't today’s topic and ambassadors more focused on seeing whether a deal can be salvaged this month.
7.

But scepticism high. Even if there is a deal persistent doubt is whether numbers in HoC stack up.
Warm words from ERG, but EU not convinced ex-Tories and Labour will back it.
8.

Nearly a year ago Theresa May told EU she could get a majority. She couldn’t. As one diplomat puts it: “Boris Johnson has lost every vote in parliament. And we remember Theresa May has said there would be a majority. So maybe it’s history repeating itself.”

9 ends