- Title: No impasse in Brexit talks but gaps remain, Ireland's Coveney says
- Date: 8th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 8, 2019) (REUTERS) IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER, SIMON COVENEY, WALKING OUT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION BUILDING AFTER MEETING WITH THE EU'S CHIEF BREXIT NEGOTIATOR MICHEL BARNIER COVENEY APPROACHING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER, SIMON COVENEY, SAYING: "I don't think things have reached an impasse but there are certainly significant gaps to close, and I think you'll see ongoing discussions tomorrow and into Thursday. You know there were discussions between the British negotiators today and the (EU's) task force and I think they're going to continue. We got a detailed briefing on that, as you'd expect, from Michel Barnier but there is still a determination on the EU side to work to try and find a way of getting a deal, but clearly the UK will need to move on some of the positions that were outlined last week to unable that to happen." EUROPEAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER, SIMON COVENEY, SAYING: "The issue of customs and the issue of governance and consent of an EU proposal is where the problem is. And there is a real gap there between the two negotiating teams, and I think that's where the discussion will focus." EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER, SIMON COVENEY, SAYING: "I believe that the (British) prime minister wants to find a way of doing a deal. He confirmed that again to the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) this evening on the phone, and we believe him in that. We want to find a way of getting a deal too. But certainly there are some in the UK who seem to be planning for a general election ahead of trying to plan to get a deal, in the context of some of the pressure that has been put on and some of the commentary that we've seen over the last 24 hours. To be honest with you we're just ignoring all of that. Domestic politics in the UK is really a matter for Britain. What we're focusing on is trying to close a gap between two negotiating teams." EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL BUILDING WHERE EU LEADER WILL DISCUSS BREXIT AT A SUMMIT ON OCTOBER 17-18
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2019 20:01
- Keywords: no-deal Brexit Ireland withdrawal agreement EU deal customs union Britain European Union Island of ireland Simon Coveney United Kingdom border
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B08NOLJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Tuesday (October 8) there was still hope for a deal with Britain to smooth its exit from the European Union, but more work was needed to be done on customs arrangements to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Following a meeting with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, Coveney told reporters: "I don't think that things have reached an impasse. But there are certainly significant gaps."
He added that to close the gaps between the two negotiating sides, Britain would have to move on some of its positions.
Earlier in the day, the EU accused Britain of playing a "stupid blame game" over Brexit after a Downing Street source said a deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands.
With just 23 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the bloc, the future of Brexit remains deeply uncertain as both London and Brussels positioned themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit.
(Production Bart Biesemans, Hortense de Roffignac) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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