EU, UK negotiators meet as stakeholders pin hope on 'tunnel' talks for Brexit deal

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier met his UK counterpart, David Frost, for latest round of talks to finalise ir post-Brexit relationship as transition period approaches its end. While differences remained on key issues, reports suggest that discussion h been “useful”. negotiators have put faith in “tunnel” negotiation when y meet at a summit in Brussels next week.

During so-called “tunnel” negotiations, two sides will negotiate without consulting outside political stakeholders or briefing media on developments. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said y should "move on" if two sides could t reach an agreement ahe of EU summit starting October 15.

Last week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen h agreed to extend Brexit negotiations for ar month. Both leers took te of progress that has alrey been me in roundtable talks and found justification in last push to reach a post-Brexit deal on tre and security.  UK has been facing backlash for its alleged “intransigent and unrealistic” attitude during Brexit tre talks, leing to a stalemate after several rounds of negotiations.

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UK PM on -deal exit

Earlier, British PM h opined that a -deal exit would be a “good outcome for UK”, triggering strong reactions from 27-member bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that a -deal exit would undermine trust and break international law. European Council President Charles Michel said that Withdrawal Agreement was concluded and ratified by both sides and has to be applied in full. 

Germany’s European affairs minister Michael Roth h said that UK needs to be more ‘realistic and pragmatic’ in Brexit negotiations. He said that he was ‘disappointed’ over London drifting apart from political declaration agreed between both sides as reliable basis for negotiations. 

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(With AP inputs)