European Commission spokes @Mina_Andreeva: "You're refering to comments [ie that Merkel said NI wd have to stay in the CU forever] I have not seen that the Chancellor herself has actually confirmed, so it would be first and foremost for the Chancellor and her team...
"...to read out from their side what is reported with regards to the phone call earlier this morning."
Cont: "What I can reiterate is that the EU position has not changed. We want a deal, we are working for a deal with the United Kingdom, and under no circumstances will we accept that the EU wants to do harm to the GFA. The focus of our work is to protect it in all its dimensions
"Technical talks are continuing today so I don't see how talks could have broken down if they are happening today, and in the days to continue in order to give precisely to the UK the opportunity to present their proposals in more detail...
"and the Commission's chief negotiator Michel Barnier will brief the College of Commissioners tomorrow on the state of play with the talks with the UK, which are continuing."
