EU to reach Brexit position by end of next week: Macron

Boris Johnson, in a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, ‘presented his latest proposals’

October 07, 2019 01:11 am | Updated 01:17 am IST - Paris

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson. File

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson. File

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the possibility of a Brexit accord would be evaluated by the end of next week.

Mr. Johnson, in a telephone conversation with Mr. Macron, “presented his latest proposals,” the French presidency said in a statement.

Mr. Macron “indicated that the negotiations should continue rapidly in the coming days, with the team of France’s EU negotiator Michel Barnier, in order to evaluate at the end of next week whether an accord is possible, while respecting the principles of the European Union,” the statement said.

London hinted Sunday that it could soften its position on “problematic” aspects of its Brexit plan, while calling on the EU to show “flexibility”.

Difficult discussions on Brexit are set to resume on Monday between the British and the Europeans, who have broadly rejected Mr. Johnson’s bid to avoid a “no-deal” Brexit on October 31.

Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said on Saturday he had told Mr. Johnson it was “important to find a solution within a week” and the British leader “agreed with the timetable”.

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