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Brussels has declined to endorse a Brexit deadline set by Emmanuel Macron for next week, potentially giving Boris Johnson more breathing space in talks.
Mr Macron had announced with the EU’s rotating presidency that the UK would have to present its plans to replace the Irish backstop by the end of the month, or “its over”.
But a spokesperson for the European Commission – which is actually conducting the talks – suggested on Thursday that the “alleged” deadline was not endorsed by its negotiating team.
“The October European Council is the next milestone in our calendar and that is something that was also discussed between president Juncker and prime minister Johnson in their working lunch,” the spokesperson told reports in Brussels.
“In order to properly prepare for the European Council the sooner we make progress the better. I don’t have any specific comment on any alleged deadlines floating around. Our next milestone is the European Council and every day counts for us.”
The Commission’s leniency on timetabling contrasts with growing disquiet among members states. Earlier this week Irish leader Leo Varadkar said the UK needed to present proposals next week for them to be in time for the European Council summit.
The spokesperson for the Commission nevertheless contradicted claims by Boris Johnson that there had been progress in talks.
“We need the UK to come forward with legally operational solutions that are compatible with the withdrawal agreement,” she said.
“The Commission remains willing to open and examine whether such proposals meet the objective of the backstop.
“I think this is also something that was agreed between president Juncker and prime minister Johnson in their working lunch – that we need any alternative measures to meet all the objectives of the backstop and this is what we can talk about.
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She confirmed there would be more talks between EU and UK teams on Friday in Brussels, though she declined to characterise them as “negotiations”.
EU leaders are set to meet for a summit on 17 and 18 October in the Belgian capital, the first time Mr Johnson will meet the EU’s 27 leaders as a group. The UK is due to crash out without a deal on 31 October if no extension has been secured or deal passed, and Mr Johnson has said he will not seek an extension – though parliament has instructed him to do so.
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