• 'Progress' made in ongoing Brexit negotiations
    4 replies, posted
[URL="https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2017/1203/924621-brexit-hardliner-demand-more-from-may-over-eu/"]https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2017/1203/924621-brexit-hardliner-demand-more-from-may-over-eu/[/URL] [QUOTE]A senior EU source has told RTÉ News that there is still no agreement on the border issue amid continuing negotiations between British and EU officials in Brussels. However, the source said there had been "progress," and that both the Irish and British governments would hold cabinet meetings tomorrow morning. The British government faces a deadline for tomorrow to put forward proposals to reach agreement on the border between Ireland and the UK, that will allow Brexit talks to move to the next stage in negotiations. "There's no agreement yet, but there’s progress," the source told RTÉ News. "There is strong desire for a deal on both sides – the wording has to be right to satisfy the political commitments of the Irish Government [on how to avoid a hard border]." ior EU source told RTÉ News that no agreement has been reached between British and EU officials, but progress has been made A senior EU source has told RTÉ News that there is still no agreement on the border issue amid continuing negotiations between British and EU officials in Brussels. However, the source said there had been "progress," and that both the Irish and British governments would hold cabinet meetings tomorrow morning. The British government faces a deadline for tomorrow to put forward proposals to reach agreement on the border between Ireland and the UK, that will allow Brexit talks to move to the next stage in negotiations. "There's no agreement yet, but there’s progress," the source told RTÉ News. "There is strong desire for a deal on both sides – the wording has to be right to satisfy the political commitments of the Irish Government [on how to avoid a hard border]." It is understood that intense negotiations have continued over the weekend, involving British, Irish and EU officials. Teams have been working on a joint draft that was produced after a particularly intense session of talks on Thursday night. "Thursday was a big day. There was very intense negotiation on Thursday," said the source. "They’re still going on. But the intensity on Thursday evening produced some kind of draft document, a joint text between the British and the EU." It is not clear yet what the sticking points are, and sources suggest the Irish border issue may not be concluded in time for British Prime Minister, Theresa May’s lunch meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker tomorrow. "It’s not there yet," said the source. "Words mean a lot. They’re trying to put language on the political commitments from the Irish side." It is understood the special Cabinet meeting tomorrow has been called to decide if the Government can accept that whatever final text emerges overnight – if at all – qualifies as "sufficient progress" on the border issue. That is the criteria by which Britain can move on to the second phase of the Brexit talks. "We hope it will be done Monday or Tuesday," the source told RTÉ News. If there is agreement by both the British and Irish cabinets, a special meeting of EU ambassadors would be called for Tuesday, since it will be the 27 EU member states which make the final call on whether "sufficient progress" has been met on all three key issues – the financial settlement, EU citizens’ rights, and the Irish border. The EU Commission will also take a formal position on Wednesday. If Dublin signs off on the joint EU-British text, it will mean that the EU summit will most likely endorse the Commission’s recommendation and decide that the talks can move to Phase II. That will require the Negotiating Guidelines, first adopted by the EU27 on 29 April, to be updated by the heads of government. If Dublin is not happy with the text then there may be a few days for further work before the Commission gives its green light on "sufficient progress". However, if the sticking points remain insurmountable, then the issue may remain open until the summit itself, in Brussels on 14 and 15 December.[/QUOTE] Tony Blair had this to say: [URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42213623"]http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42213623[/URL] [QUOTE]The Good Friday Agreement is "at risk because of Brexit" after the UK leaves the EU, former prime minister Tony Blair has told the BBC. UK and Irish membership of the EU was "central" to the 1998 deal, he told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend. Free movement on the border had been key to reaching an agreement, he said. The Republic of Ireland's Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Coveney warned against a hard border becoming the "collateral damage" of Brexit. Mr Coveney, who is also Ireland's foreign minister, told BBC One's Andrew Marr show that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were "uniquely vulnerable and exposed to a potentially bad outcome" from Brexit. "We cannot allow some kind of collateral damage or unintended consequence of Brexit to [be] the recreation of a border on the island of Ireland," he said. Mr Blair said the prospect of a hard border posed "real challenges" to the peace process and it was difficult to see how the issue would be resolved. The ex-PM, who helped orchestrate the Good Friday Agreement, said that the UK and Ireland's EU membership made it "easy" to appease nationalist feelings in 1998. The free movement of people, goods and an open border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland was "part of that expression that the island of Ireland was together", he said. But there are concerns that Brexit could lead to a "hard border" like that seen before the Good Friday Agreement - for example, by reintroducing customs checks between the two countries.[/QUOTE] As much as I think he is disgraced and really do not think he should be in the headlines - considering he did do some good in Northern Ireland, I'm willing to listen to Blair. Tomorrow will tell whether it is Deliverance or Dooms Day.
Thank you, facepunch's senior brexit correspondent Not really much there but tomorrow will be the day I guess
[QUOTE=Sableye;52943346]Thank you, facepunch's senior brexit correspondent Not really much there but tomorrow will be the day I guess[/QUOTE] I'm more so the Irish correspondent. I wouldn't give too many fucks about Brexit if it didn't affect us so drastically. :v
Translation: "Theresa and Boris have stopped storming in to the room shouting 'BREXIT MEANS BREXIT' whilst jumping on the table, and David Davis has finally been potty trained."
After some long hard talks, we have reached a formal agreement on the first item on the lunch menu for next week's meeting
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