MICHEL Barnier has shot down Boris Johnson’s claim that he is closing in on a Brexit deal by saying the UK has yet to offer any credible alternatives to the Irish backstop.
The EU’s chief negotiator told MEPs he was still waiting for the UK to “make concrete proposals in writing that are legally operational”.
Mr Johnson has insisted the fallback measure must be removed from any deal with the EU27, something the EU and Ireland have rejected.
Mr Barnier said: “While we have previously reached an agreement, as far as we can speak [today], we have no reason to be optimistic.
“I cannot tell you objectively whether contacts with the government of Mr Johnson will be able to reach an agreement by mid-October.”
European Parliament president David Sassoli said: “We would like there to be initiatives to discuss, but unfortunately there aren’t any.”
He said the UK had not proposed “any alternatives” to the backstop issue, adding: “You can’t have an agreement without a backstop.
“It couldn’t really be any clearer. That’s the position of the EU Commission, the position of the EU institutions including the EU Parliament.”
However he said the EU would consider granting the UK a further Brexit extension to avoid a no-deal or to hold a general election.
He also said the EU would be willing to go back to its original proposal or a Northern Ireland only backstop, implying a border down the Irish Sea, which Mr Johnson has ruled out.
SNP Brexit Secretary Michael Secretary said he was “extremely alarmed” about the apparent lack of serious negotiations with Europe.
After a two-hour joint ministerial committee with no-deal planning minister Michael Gove, and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, he said: “I am extremely alarmed that, so close to the UK exiting the EU on October 31, we did not hear any convincing evidence that serious negotiations are taking place.
“We were very concerned before the meeting that it appeared that no substantive talks between the UK Government and the EU were ongoing, and we did not hear anything in this meeting to contradict that.
“If any negotiations do take place, the UK Government is obliged under the terms of reference of this committee to inform its members so that it can carry out its responsibility of overseeing such talks.
“I have also impressed upon UK Government ministers the vital need to share information on ‘no deal’ Brexit preparedness.
“An improvement in the flow of communication was promised – we of course look forward to how seriously that undertaking is delivered.”
After the meeting, the UK government issued a communique saying it had “discussed the UK’s exit from the EU, including developments on negotiations and exit readiness [and] domestic issues, including the joint work on common frameworks.”
Alison Evison, president of council umbrella group Cosla, said Scotland’s local authorities would continue to work with partners across Europe through its Brussels office.
She said: “Brexit does not mean that Scotland’s councils will withdraw from the relationships we have worked hard to build with our European counterparts.
“This why we will continue, post-Brexit, to remain members of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and the United Cities and Local Government.
“Regardless of the outcome of Brexit, Cosla and the rest of Scottish Local Government will champion the benefits of international engagement to the public.”
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