Johnson sets out to win backing of EU leaders for his Brexit blueprint
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Boris Johnson is preparing for 10 days of “intensive discussions” as he seeks backing from EU leaders for his Brexit blueprint.
The Prime Minister has said he wants to get an agreement in place for the EU summit on October 17, paving the way for Britain to leave with a deal at the end of the month.
With the agenda for such meetings generally set several days in advance, he acknowledged there was “very little time” left.
So far, however, European leaders have reacted coolly to the plan, set out in a letter to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday, to resolve the issue of the Northern Ireland backstop.
The Prime Minister will update the Cabinet, back from the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, on the way ahead when it meets on Thursday in Downing Street.
He has already spoken to Juncker, Irish premier Leo Varadkar, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with more talks expected with other leaders over the coming days.
Johnson said his plan, which would see Northern Ireland remain tied to EU single market rules for trade in goods while leaving the customs union with the rest of the UK, represented a “fair and reasonable compromise”.
However, both Juncker and Varadkar expressed concern the return of customs controls – however light-touch – threatened the guarantee under the Good Friday agreement to maintain an open border with the Republic.
