The European Union and Britain are still aiming for mid-October as a cut-off date for a deal enabling a smooth transition when Britain exits the bloc in March 2019, British negotiator Dominic Raab said on Friday.
Raab made the comments in Brussels, where he has been meeting his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier.
Both cited progress on certain fronts, such as information-sharing among law enforcement.
But both conceded the biggest issues remain unresolved.
A mid-October deal would coincide with the next EU summit on Oct.18.
Raab said he is “confident, if not more confident,” they would reach a deal by then, although he declined to give the odds.
Barnier was more cautious about the timeline.
He said the two sides would need an agreement by November at the latest if it is to be in place when Britain leaves the EU as planned on March 29, 2019.
That may require a special summit.
One of the biggest sticking points is the future regulation of the border between the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland, which will leave the EU as part of the United Kingdom.
Barnier repeated his concern that a “backstop” deal on the border is essential to to get to a broader Brexit deal.
“With no backstop, there will be no agreement,” he said.
With the deadline looming and little public agreement, there has been increasing concern that a “no-deal” Brexit would result without any key arrangements, leading to economic chaos.(dpa/NAN)
