NEW: EU27 ambassadors have been updated on this weekend's Brexit talks.
Main points:
- no breakthrough yet
- talks focussed on customs arrangements: UK wants to distinguish between goods that remain in Northern Ireland and ones that go onto EU [customs partnership basically]
Main points:
- no breakthrough yet
- talks focussed on customs arrangements: UK wants to distinguish between goods that remain in Northern Ireland and ones that go onto EU [customs partnership basically]
- finding an agreement on "consent" remains very complicated because the UK wants a mechanism that would allow to terminate the agreement
Putting aside merits of these ideas, the big issue is time (it's my understanding that there is no new UK text yet), and what can be done by 19/10 and 31/10, and what could be done during say a three month extension.
Question is also very much a political one for all involved.
Question is also very much a political one for all involved.
