The European Union told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he must make <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-ready-to-make-major-concession-on-brexit-deal-the-times-newspaper-254717">significant concessions</a> if he wants to strike a last-minute Brexit deal.

As the clock ticks down to the October 31 departure date, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irish-pm-says-very-difficult-to-secure-brexit-deal-by-next-week-254692">Brexit descended into a public</a> row between London and Brussels this week as both sides position for another delay followed by an election in Britain or an acrimonious divorce.

After a Downing Street source said a Brexit deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands, the EU accused Johnson of playing a "stupid blame game".

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said striking a Brexit deal ahead of October 31 would be "very difficult" and the bloc could not accept Johnson's proposals. He added that a deal was "still possible."

"To put things frankly, we are not really in a position to be able to find agreement with the UK," Barnier told the European Parliament. He said he would be available 24x7 in the coming days to try to strike a deal.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was working for a Brexit deal, which he also said was still possible.

"I don't accept this blame game that started in London. Personally, I don't exclude a deal," Juncker told the European Parliament's plenary session.

"The risk of a no-deal remains real and basically is going to come down to a decision by the UK government, but will never be the choice - the preferred option - of the European Union."

The European Union's two most powerful leaders, Germany's Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron, will meet at the Elysee Palace this Sunday ahead of an October 17-18 EU summit, Macron's office said.

"I'm still cautiously, cautiously optimistic," Johnson said.

EU diplomats, though, are sceptical about the chances of a deal. Most expect Johnson to be forced to accept a delay to Brexit - a step that could ultimately lead to either a disorderly exit or the reversal of the entire Brexit endeavour.

"There will be no rabbit-out-of-the-hat solutions," one EU official said. "There will be more talks and more political contacts. But, for the time being, there is no breakthrough to be reported."

Johnson has repeatedly cast the EU summit next week as the last chance for the EU to strike a deal or face the disruption of a no-deal Brexit that would divide the West, threaten the unity of the United Kingdom and roil financial markets.

A week ago, he proposed a possible solution to ensure the border between the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland does not become a backdoor into the EU's single market and customs union.

Short of an last-minute breakthrough, Johnson will have to decide whether to accept another delay or to go for a no-deal Brexit and get around a law demanding he extend.

In the fevered atmosphere surrounding Brexit where newspaper reports and contradictory tweets can send sterling into gyrations, EU officials denied a report in The Times that the bloc was preparing a major concession to Britain to secure a deal.

"Unfortunately, no bold new offer is coming from the EU side at this stage," an EU official said.

Britain's Brexit minister, Steve Barclay, was due to have lunch with EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Thursday.

Behind the rhetoric, the Brexit finale will ultimately be decided by Merkel, Macron, Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar - all of whom say they want an orderly exit.

Johnson and Varadkar are due to meet on Thursday.

With chances of a deal receding, focus was turning back to British domestic politics, where Johnson is under intense pressure from opponents to delay Brexit.

Anti-Brexit campaigners claimed victory after Scotland's highest court decided on Wednesday to wait before ruling whether to force Johnson to seek a delay to Britain's EU divorce date if he has not struck a deal in the next 10 days.

The European Union told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he must make significant concessions if he wants to strike a last-minute Brexit deal. As the clock ticks down to the October 31 departure date, Brexit descended into a public row between London and Brussels this week as both sides position for another delay followed by an election in Britain or an acrimonious divorce.

The European Union told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he must make significant concessions if he wants to strike a last-minute Brexit deal. As the clock ticks down to the October 31 departure date, Brexit descended into a public row between London and Brussels this week as both sides position for another delay followed by an election in Britain or an acrimonious divorce. After a Downing Street source said a Brexit deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands, the EU accused Johnson of playing a "stupid blame game". The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said striking a Brexit deal ahead of October 31 would be "very difficult" and the bloc could not accept Johnson's proposals. He added that a deal was "still possible." "To put things frankly, we are not really in a position to be able to find agreement with the UK," Barnier told the European Parliament. He said he would be available 24x7 in the coming days to try to strike a deal. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was working for a Brexit deal, which he also said was still possible. "I don't accept this blame game that started in London. Personally, I don't exclude a deal," Juncker told the European Parliament's plenary session. "The risk of a no-deal remains real and basically is going to come down to a decision by the UK government, but will never be the choice - the preferred option - of the European Union." The European Union's two most powerful leaders, Germany's Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron, will meet at the Elysee Palace this Sunday ahead of an October 17-18 EU summit, Macron's office said. "I'm still cautiously, cautiously optimistic," Johnson said. EU diplomats, though, are sceptical about the chances of a deal. Most expect Johnson to be forced to accept a delay to Brexit - a step that could ultimately lead to either a disorderly exit or the reversal of the entire Brexit endeavour. "There will be no rabbit-out-of-the-hat solutions," one EU official said. "There will be more talks and more political contacts. But, for the time being, there is no breakthrough to be reported." Johnson has repeatedly cast the EU summit next week as the last chance for the EU to strike a deal or face the disruption of a no-deal Brexit that would divide the West, threaten the unity of the United Kingdom and roil financial markets. A week ago, he proposed a possible solution to ensure the border between the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland does not become a backdoor into the EU's single market and customs union. Short of an last-minute breakthrough, Johnson will have to decide whether to accept another delay or to go for a no-deal Brexit and get around a law demanding he extend. In the fevered atmosphere surrounding Brexit where newspaper reports and contradictory tweets can send sterling into gyrations, EU officials denied a report in The Times that the bloc was preparing a major concession to Britain to secure a deal. "Unfortunately, no bold new offer is coming from the EU side at this stage," an EU official said. Britain's Brexit minister, Steve Barclay, was due to have lunch with EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, on Thursday. Behind the rhetoric, the Brexit finale will ultimately be decided by Merkel, Macron, Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar - all of whom say they want an orderly exit. Johnson and Varadkar are due to meet on Thursday. With chances of a deal receding, focus was turning back to British domestic politics, where Johnson is under intense pressure from opponents to delay Brexit. Anti-Brexit campaigners claimed victory after Scotland's highest court decided on Wednesday to wait before ruling whether to force Johnson to seek a delay to Britain's EU divorce date if he has not struck a deal in the next 10 days.

Make significant concessions if you want Brexit deal: EU to British PM Johnson

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-brexit-talks-with-eu-teeter-on-verge-of-collapse-254597">Boris&nbsp;Johnson</a>&nbsp;is facing a fresh rebellion in his&nbsp;cabinet, with a group of ministers poised to resign due to concerns that he is leading the country towards a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-deal-is-essentially-impossible-ever-downing-street-source-254498"> no-deal&nbsp;Brexit,</a> The Times newspaper&nbsp;reported on Wednesday.

Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan, British Minister for Northern Ireland Julian Smith, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Health Minister Matt Hancock, and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox are all on a "resignation watch list", according to The Times&nbsp;report.

An unnamed&nbsp;cabinet&nbsp;minister cited by the newspaper said that a "very large number" of Conservative members of parliament will quit if it comes to a no-deal&nbsp;Brexit.

The Times said that ministers had warned&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;in a&nbsp;cabinet&nbsp;meeting about the "grave" risk of the return of direct rule in Northern Ireland and raised concerns about Dominic Cummings,&nbsp;Johnson's top adviser.

"Cabinet&nbsp;will set the strategy, not unelected officials. If this is an attempt to do that then it will fail", the&nbsp;report&nbsp;quoted another&nbsp;cabinet&nbsp;minister as saying.

While the Times newspaper did not specify how many Conservative lawmakers oppose a no-deal&nbsp;scenario, the Financial Times&nbsp;reported early on Wednesday that at least 50 members of parliament from the party will&nbsp;revolt&nbsp;against a general election manifesto pledging to pursue a no-deal&nbsp;Brexit.

Certain lawmakers from the party are considering running on a softer individual&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;platform or even standing aside altogether as a Tory candidate, the FT&nbsp;report&nbsp;added.

The media&nbsp;reports come as the European Union accused Britain of playing a "stupid blame game"&nbsp;over&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;after a Downing Street source told Reuters a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands.

With just&nbsp;over&nbsp;three weeks before the United Kingdom is due to leave the European bloc, the future of&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;remains deeply uncertain as both London and Brussels position themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal&nbsp;Brexit.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a fresh rebellion in his cabinet, with a group of ministers poised to resign due to concerns that he is leading the country towards a no-deal Brexit, The Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a fresh rebellion in his cabinet, with a group of ministers poised to resign due to concerns that he is leading the country towards a no-deal Brexit, The Times newspaper reported on Wednesday. Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan, British Minister for Northern Ireland Julian Smith, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Health Minister Matt Hancock, and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox are all on a "resignation watch list", according to The Times report. An unnamed cabinet minister cited by the newspaper said that a "very large number" of Conservative members of parliament will quit if it comes to a no-deal Brexit. The Times said that ministers had warned Johnson in a cabinet meeting about the "grave" risk of the return of direct rule in Northern Ireland and raised concerns about Dominic Cummings, Johnson's top adviser. "Cabinet will set the strategy, not unelected officials. If this is an attempt to do that then it will fail", the report quoted another cabinet minister as saying. While the Times newspaper did not specify how many Conservative lawmakers oppose a no-deal scenario, the Financial Times reported early on Wednesday that at least 50 members of parliament from the party will revolt against a general election manifesto pledging to pursue a no-deal Brexit. Certain lawmakers from the party are considering running on a softer individual Brexit platform or even standing aside altogether as a Tory candidate, the FT report added. The media reports come as the European Union accused Britain of playing a "stupid blame game" over Brexit after a Downing Street source told Reuters a deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands. With just over three weeks before the United Kingdom is due to leave the European bloc, the future of Brexit remains deeply uncertain as both London and Brussels position themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit.

UK PM Boris Johnson faces cabinet revolt over no-deal Brexit: Report

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with European Parliament President David Sassoli in London on Tuesday, as both the UK and the EU position themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit.

UK PM Johnson meets EU parliament president as Brexit looks uncertain

It will be&nbsp;very&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;a&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;agreement by&nbsp;next&nbsp;week&nbsp;with big gaps remaining in the British position,&nbsp;Irish&nbsp;Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday following a phone call with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson.

"I'll certainly work until the&nbsp;very&nbsp;last moment to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;that (a&nbsp;deal) but not at any cost... I think it will be&nbsp;very&nbsp;difficult&nbsp;to&nbsp;secure&nbsp;an agreement by&nbsp;next&nbsp;week, quite frankly," Varadkar told&nbsp;Irish&nbsp;national broadcaster RTE.

"Essentially what the United Kingdom has done is repudiated the&nbsp;deal&nbsp;that we negotiated in good faith with Prime Minister May's government over two years and has sort of put half of that now back on the table and are saying that's a concession and of course it isn't really. There are two big gaps."

Johnson has consistently said the United Kingdom will leave the EU on October&nbsp;31 with or without a&nbsp;deal, though a law passed by parliament demands he write a letter to the EU asking for a delay if he cannot strike an exit&nbsp;deal&nbsp;by October 19.

He has said he would abide by the law but <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-boris-johnson-warns-european-union-he-will-not-delay-brexit-254136">Britain would leave the EU by the end of the month</a>, without explaining that contradiction. He has also repeatedly demanded an election but parliament has refused to grant one.

The European Union has accused Britain of playing a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-stake-is-not-winning-some-stupid-blame-game-tusk-to-pm-johnson-on-brexit-254552">"stupid blame game"</a> over&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;after a Downing Street source said a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands.

With just 22 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the bloc, the future of&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;remains deeply uncertain as both London and Brussels position themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal&nbsp;Brexit.

It will be very difficult to secure a Brexit agreement by next week with big gaps remaining in the British position, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday following a phone call with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson.

It will be very difficult to secure a Brexit agreement by next week with big gaps remaining in the British position, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday following a phone call with his British counterpart, Boris Johnson. "I'll certainly work until the very last moment to secure that (a deal) but not at any cost... I think it will be very difficult to secure an agreement by next week, quite frankly," Varadkar told Irish national broadcaster RTE. "Essentially what the United Kingdom has done is repudiated the deal that we negotiated in good faith with Prime Minister May's government over two years and has sort of put half of that now back on the table and are saying that's a concession and of course it isn't really. There are two big gaps." Johnson has consistently said the United Kingdom will leave the EU on October 31 with or without a deal, though a law passed by parliament demands he write a letter to the EU asking for a delay if he cannot strike an exit deal by October 19. He has said he would abide by the law but Britain would leave the EU by the end of the month, without explaining that contradiction. He has also repeatedly demanded an election but parliament has refused to grant one. The European Union has accused Britain of playing a "stupid blame game" over Brexit after a Downing Street source said a deal was essentially impossible because German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made unacceptable demands. With just 22 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the bloc, the future of Brexit remains deeply uncertain as both London and Brussels position themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit.

Irish PM says very difficult to secure Brexit deal by next week

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 8th, 2019

Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union teetered on the verge of collapse on Tuesday, with tit-for-tat claims of intransigence and sabotage before an end-of-the-month deadline.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he tried to salvage new divorce terms he had proposed ahead of next week's pivotal EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

Breaking with convention, Downing Street then provided a readout of what Merkel allegedly said, provoking an incendiary tweet from EU Council President Donald Tusk.

According to the London source, Merkel demanded a rewrite of Britain's approach to the long-vexing Irish border problem that made a compromise "essentially impossible".

A deal now looked "overwhelmingly unlikely" and talks were "close to breaking down", the source added.

Britain has been trying for more than three years to find a way to deliver on UK voters' wishes and end its almost five-decade involvement in the European project.

Riding a wave of British frustrations with the saga, Johnson is threatening to leave at any cost -- with or without a withdrawal deal -- on October 31.

In Berlin, Merkel's office said it would not comment "on such confidential discussions". Johnson's official spokesman also declined to comment on the substance of the call.

But he told reporters the pair had a "frank exchange" -- diplomatic speak for a disagreement.

The spokesman rejected Tusk's accusation that Johnson was playing "some stupid blame game" by having his office leak out the detail of private talks.

A frustrated Tusk had accused <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-stake-is-not-winning-some-stupid-blame-game-tusk-to-pm-johnson-on-brexit-254552">Britain of playing with "the future of Europe and the UK"</a> with no clear plan of what the country wanted.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said he found it "hard to disagree" with Tusk, stressing that Dublin would "not strike a deal at any cost".

No deal planning

Although Johnson's Brexit negotiators were still meeting various European officials, much of the focus is shifting to what happens after the talks are formally pronounced dead.

The Irish government published a 2020 spending plan with a $1.3 billion&nbsp;relief fund based on the assumption that there will be no agreement.

The UK government also released updated preparations for a "no deal" exit at the end of the month, indicating it was increasingly expecting the outcome.&nbsp;

The Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank, however, warned that "even a relatively benign no-deal Brexit" would see Britain's debt burden surge to 50-year highs.

On the markets, the pound slipped to its lowest value against the euro in about a month.

Johnson, who took over from Theresa May in July, has been accused of political manoeuvring before calling a snap general election to strengthen his position in parliament.&nbsp;

On Tuesday the government suspended the legislature from Wednesday until October 14, when Queen Elizabeth II will set out the government's legislative domestic agenda.

Border dispute

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-deal-is-essentially-impossible-ever-downing-street-source-254498">Johnson's proposals outline a new way to avoid a hard border between EU member the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit.</a>

It would take the British province of Northern Ireland out of the EU's customs union but keep it largely aligned with the bloc's "single market" standards and regulations.

EU officials said this would not remove the need for customs checks -- a deal-breaker because it jeopardises the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

That agreement effectively created an invisible border between north and south, satisfying republicans who want a united Ireland and unionists who want to keep the status quo.

Keeping the border open and free-flowing has long been the main sticking point in the talks.

Downing Street officials say Brussels is making a big mistake because failure in the coming days to reach a deal would result in Britain's position only hardening down the line.

Another delay

One source in Johnson's office told The Spectator magazine the government will try to "do all sorts of things" to prevent another Brexit delay should negotiations really collapse.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uk-economy-starts-to-shows-cracks-under-brexit-and-global-strains-254409">Scotland's top civil court is due to rule Wednesday whether someone else - possibly a judge - could sign an extension request if Johnson fails to follow parliament's order to ask for one if there is still no deal by October 19.</a>

But should a delay still be granted at the EU summit, Johnson will campaign for a "no-deal" in an election, the Downing Street source told The Spectator, which supports the ruling Conservative party.

The Spectator's source also lashed out at Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, saying he had "gone back on his commitments" since parliament passed the law demanding a delay in case of no-deal.

"As things stand, Dublin will do nothing, hoping we offer more," the source said.

Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union teetered on the verge of collapse on Tuesday, with tit-for-tat claims of intransigence and sabotage before an end-of-the-month deadline.

Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union teetered on the verge of collapse on Tuesday, with tit-for-tat claims of intransigence and sabotage before an end-of-the-month deadline. Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he tried to salvage new divorce terms he had proposed ahead of next week's pivotal EU leaders' summit in Brussels. Breaking with convention, Downing Street then provided a readout of what Merkel allegedly said, provoking an incendiary tweet from EU Council President Donald Tusk. According to the London source, Merkel demanded a rewrite of Britain's approach to the long-vexing Irish border problem that made a compromise "essentially impossible". A deal now looked "overwhelmingly unlikely" and talks were "close to breaking down", the source added. Britain has been trying for more than three years to find a way to deliver on UK voters' wishes and end its almost five-decade involvement in the European project. Riding a wave of British frustrations with the saga, Johnson is threatening to leave at any cost -- with or without a withdrawal deal -- on October 31. In Berlin, Merkel's office said it would not comment "on such confidential discussions". Johnson's official spokesman also declined to comment on the substance of the call. But he told reporters the pair had a "frank exchange" -- diplomatic speak for a disagreement. The spokesman rejected Tusk's accusation that Johnson was playing "some stupid blame game" by having his office leak out the detail of private talks. A frustrated Tusk had accused Britain of playing with "the future of Europe and the UK" with no clear plan of what the country wanted. Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said he found it "hard to disagree" with Tusk, stressing that Dublin would "not strike a deal at any cost". No deal planning Although Johnson's Brexit negotiators were still meeting various European officials, much of the focus is shifting to what happens after the talks are formally pronounced dead. The Irish government published a 2020 spending plan with a $1.3 billion relief fund based on the assumption that there will be no agreement. The UK government also released updated preparations for a "no deal" exit at the end of the month, indicating it was increasingly expecting the outcome. The Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank, however, warned that "even a relatively benign no-deal Brexit" would see Britain's debt burden surge to 50-year highs. On the markets, the pound slipped to its lowest value against the euro in about a month. Johnson, who took over from Theresa May in July, has been accused of political manoeuvring before calling a snap general election to strengthen his position in parliament. On Tuesday the government suspended the legislature from Wednesday until October 14, when Queen Elizabeth II will set out the government's legislative domestic agenda. Border dispute Johnson's proposals outline a new way to avoid a hard border between EU member the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit. It would take the British province of Northern Ireland out of the EU's customs union but keep it largely aligned with the bloc's "single market" standards and regulations. EU officials said this would not remove the need for customs checks -- a deal-breaker because it jeopardises the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. That agreement effectively created an invisible border between north and south, satisfying republicans who want a united Ireland and unionists who want to keep the status quo. Keeping the border open and free-flowing has long been the main sticking point in the talks. Downing Street officials say Brussels is making a big mistake because failure in the coming days to reach a deal would result in Britain's position only hardening down the line. Another delay One source in Johnson's office told The Spectator magazine the government will try to "do all sorts of things" to prevent another Brexit delay should negotiations really collapse. Scotland's top civil court is due to rule Wednesday whether someone else - possibly a judge - could sign an extension request if Johnson fails to follow parliament's order to ask for one if there is still no deal by October 19. But should a delay still be granted at the EU summit, Johnson will campaign for a "no-deal" in an election, the Downing Street source told The Spectator, which supports the ruling Conservative party. The Spectator's source also lashed out at Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, saying he had "gone back on his commitments" since parliament passed the law demanding a delay in case of no-deal. "As things stand, Dublin will do nothing, hoping we offer more," the source said.

Britain's Brexit talks with EU teeter on verge of collapse

EU Council president Donald Tusk lashed out at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uk-economy-starts-to-shows-cracks-under-brexit-and-global-strains-254409">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> on Tuesday warning him not to play "some stupid blame game" over Brexit.

"PM Johnson what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people," the EU Council president said on Twitter, adding, "you don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?"

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BorisJohnson</a>, what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people. You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) <a href="https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1181519363783974912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In the final Brexit proposal last week, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-prime-minister-johnson-tells-eu-brexit-ball-is-in-your-court-now-254283">British PM Johnson had said</a> that he would leave the European Union(EU) on October 31, the deadline set by the European body for Britain's exit from the common market.

Despite Tusk's comments, European Commission spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva rejected reports that talks had broken down with Britain.

"Technical talks are continuing today so I don't see how talks could have actually been broken down if they are happening today and in the days to continue," the European Commission spokeswoman said.&nbsp;

"Our working assumption remains that the United Kingdom is leaving the EU on the 31st of October as they have notified to us and as Prime Minister Johnson keeps reiterating. And again, the principle of sincere cooperation is very important," Andreeva added.

With just weeks remaining, Johnson's move has run into trouble with several British lawmakers against a "no-deal" Brexit.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Amid the uncertainty over Johnson's Brexit's plan, Ireland's finance minister Paschal Donohoe said today that the country's 2020 budget includes a $1.3 billion relief fund to cushion the economic blow if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal.

"I am today announcing a package of over euros $1.3 billion, excluding EU funding, to respond to Brexit", Donohoe said. "This is a budget that has been developed in the shadow of Brexit. And the context of Brexit has now shifted to no deal as our central assumption. This does not mean that no deal is inevitable, but equally we stand ready if it does happen," Ireland's finance minister added.

Meanwhile, The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a leading think tank warned that Britain's debt burden would jump to its highest level in 50 years if it leaves the EU without a deal.

The IFS &nbsp;said that a no-deal Brexit would likely lead to borrowing approaching £100 billion or four per cent of Britain's GDP.

EU Council president Donald Tusk lashed out at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday warning him not to play "some stupid blame game" over Brexit. "PM Johnson what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game.

EU Council president Donald Tusk lashed out at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday warning him not to play "some stupid blame game" over Brexit. "PM Johnson what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people," the EU Council president said on Twitter, adding, "you don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?" .@BorisJohnson, what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people. You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis? — Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 8, 2019 × In the final Brexit proposal last week, British PM Johnson had said that he would leave the European Union(EU) on October 31, the deadline set by the European body for Britain's exit from the common market. Despite Tusk's comments, European Commission spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva rejected reports that talks had broken down with Britain. "Technical talks are continuing today so I don't see how talks could have actually been broken down if they are happening today and in the days to continue," the European Commission spokeswoman said. "Our working assumption remains that the United Kingdom is leaving the EU on the 31st of October as they have notified to us and as Prime Minister Johnson keeps reiterating. And again, the principle of sincere cooperation is very important," Andreeva added. With just weeks remaining, Johnson's move has run into trouble with several British lawmakers against a "no-deal" Brexit. Amid the uncertainty over Johnson's Brexit's plan, Ireland's finance minister Paschal Donohoe said today that the country's 2020 budget includes a $1.3 billion relief fund to cushion the economic blow if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. "I am today announcing a package of over euros $1.3 billion, excluding EU funding, to respond to Brexit", Donohoe said. "This is a budget that has been developed in the shadow of Brexit. And the context of Brexit has now shifted to no deal as our central assumption. This does not mean that no deal is inevitable, but equally we stand ready if it does happen," Ireland's finance minister added. Meanwhile, The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a leading think tank warned that Britain's debt burden would jump to its highest level in 50 years if it leaves the EU without a deal. The IFS said that a no-deal Brexit would likely lead to borrowing approaching £100 billion or four per cent of Britain's GDP.

At stake is not winning some stupid blame game: Tusk to PM Johnson on Brexit

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 7th, 2019

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-presses-uk-to-resubmit-brexit-plan-as-end-game-looms-254002">European Union</a> on Sunday he will not delay Brexit beyond October 31, underlining that his latest proposals are a last chance to reach a deal.

Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron in a telephone call on Sunday that "the EU should not be lured into the mistaken belief that the UK will stay in the EU after October 31st", a Downing Street spokesman quoted him as saying.

The UK premier said he would not request another delay, despite British MPs passing a law last month that requires him to seek another Brexit delay if he fails to secure an agreement by the end of a make-or-break EU summit on October 17-18.

This law was "undermining negotiations, but if EU leaders are betting that it will prevent no deal, that would be a historic misunderstanding", a senior Downing Street source said.

"The UK has made a big, important offer but it’s time for the (European) Commission to show a willingness to compromise too. If not the UK will leave with no deal," the source added.

Watch: Is a Brexit Delay Inevitable?

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European leaders have reacted tepidly to London's latest propositions.

Britain has urged the EU to intensify talks over the proposals, as European leaders warned it must revise its plans within days in order to conclude a deal this month.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the bloc needed to show "creativity and flexibility" ahead of October 31 -- when Johnson has vowed to end the country's 46 years of EU membership with or without an agreement.

With the EU asking for reworked proposals within days, an Elysee Palace spokesperson said Macron agreed in his call with Johnson that talks between EU top negotiator Michel Barnier's team and British officials should continue in the coming days "to assess if an agreement is possible" by the end of the week.&nbsp;

Barclay reiterated that the ideas Johnson has formally submitted to Brussels were "a broad landing zone" and "intense negotiations" were now necessary.

"We've set out very serious proposals including compromise on our side," he told the BBC.

"We do need to get into the intensive negotiations on the text to clarify what the deal is."

Barclay added the government was considering holding a parliamentary vote ahead of the EU summit to show Brussels the plans have MPs' support.

European leaders had reportedly balked at Britain's request to keep initial discussions on the proposals going through the weekend, and they will resume on Monday, with time running out ahead of the EU summit.&nbsp;

'No more dither'

Johnson began phoning European leaders at the weekend to sell his proposals, speaking to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday.

Rutte tweeted he had told Johnson "important questions remain about the British proposals" and "there is a lot of work to be done ahead" of the summit.

Barnier told an event in France Saturday that while an agreement was still possible it "will be very difficult to reach".

The British leader is hoping the threat of a messy no-deal departure in less than three weeks could force the EU to compromise.

Barclay said Sunday that the government would comply with the legislation requiring Johnson to seek another delay if no deal is reached.

But in identical articles for two Brexit-backing British tabloids, Johnson insisted the country will leave the bloc later this month.

'Ready to work'&nbsp;

The British proposals submitted to Brussels Wednesday centre on how to manage the post-Brexit border between British province Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Johnson wants Northern Ireland's devolved assembly -- which has been suspended for almost three years -- to vote every four years on whether to maintain EU rather than British regulations there.

He has also proposed the province leaves the EU's customs union along with the rest of the UK, with required checks to rely on untried technology and carried out away from the sensitive border.

Brussels has said the plans "do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement".

It sees the potential for rampant smuggling while Ireland is concerned hardline Northern Irish unionists would have an effective veto.&nbsp;

Barclay, who travelled to Amsterdam Sunday for Brexit talks, suggested Britain could be willing to consider alternative ways of meeting its aims.

"We're ready to work on that," he said.

Ireland's leader Leo Varadkar said Saturday there is "plenty of time" to put forward alternatives and he was trying to arrange a meeting with Johnson next week, Irish broadcaster RTE reported.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the European Union on Sunday he will not delay Brexit beyond October 31, underlining that his latest proposals are a last chance to reach a deal.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the European Union on Sunday he will not delay Brexit beyond October 31, underlining that his latest proposals are a last chance to reach a deal. Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron in a telephone call on Sunday that "the EU should not be lured into the mistaken belief that the UK will stay in the EU after October 31st", a Downing Street spokesman quoted him as saying. The UK premier said he would not request another delay, despite British MPs passing a law last month that requires him to seek another Brexit delay if he fails to secure an agreement by the end of a make-or-break EU summit on October 17-18. This law was "undermining negotiations, but if EU leaders are betting that it will prevent no deal, that would be a historic misunderstanding", a senior Downing Street source said. "The UK has made a big, important offer but it’s time for the (European) Commission to show a willingness to compromise too. If not the UK will leave with no deal," the source added. Watch: Is a Brexit Delay Inevitable? × European leaders have reacted tepidly to London's latest propositions. Britain has urged the EU to intensify talks over the proposals, as European leaders warned it must revise its plans within days in order to conclude a deal this month. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the bloc needed to show "creativity and flexibility" ahead of October 31 -- when Johnson has vowed to end the country's 46 years of EU membership with or without an agreement. With the EU asking for reworked proposals within days, an Elysee Palace spokesperson said Macron agreed in his call with Johnson that talks between EU top negotiator Michel Barnier's team and British officials should continue in the coming days "to assess if an agreement is possible" by the end of the week. Barclay reiterated that the ideas Johnson has formally submitted to Brussels were "a broad landing zone" and "intense negotiations" were now necessary. "We've set out very serious proposals including compromise on our side," he told the BBC. "We do need to get into the intensive negotiations on the text to clarify what the deal is." Barclay added the government was considering holding a parliamentary vote ahead of the EU summit to show Brussels the plans have MPs' support. European leaders had reportedly balked at Britain's request to keep initial discussions on the proposals going through the weekend, and they will resume on Monday, with time running out ahead of the EU summit. 'No more dither' Johnson began phoning European leaders at the weekend to sell his proposals, speaking to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday. Rutte tweeted he had told Johnson "important questions remain about the British proposals" and "there is a lot of work to be done ahead" of the summit. Barnier told an event in France Saturday that while an agreement was still possible it "will be very difficult to reach". The British leader is hoping the threat of a messy no-deal departure in less than three weeks could force the EU to compromise. Barclay said Sunday that the government would comply with the legislation requiring Johnson to seek another delay if no deal is reached. But in identical articles for two Brexit-backing British tabloids, Johnson insisted the country will leave the bloc later this month. 'Ready to work' The British proposals submitted to Brussels Wednesday centre on how to manage the post-Brexit border between British province Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. Johnson wants Northern Ireland's devolved assembly -- which has been suspended for almost three years -- to vote every four years on whether to maintain EU rather than British regulations there. He has also proposed the province leaves the EU's customs union along with the rest of the UK, with required checks to rely on untried technology and carried out away from the sensitive border. Brussels has said the plans "do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement". It sees the potential for rampant smuggling while Ireland is concerned hardline Northern Irish unionists would have an effective veto. Barclay, who travelled to Amsterdam Sunday for Brexit talks, suggested Britain could be willing to consider alternative ways of meeting its aims. "We're ready to work on that," he said. Ireland's leader Leo Varadkar said Saturday there is "plenty of time" to put forward alternatives and he was trying to arrange a meeting with Johnson next week, Irish broadcaster RTE reported.

British PM Boris Johnson warns European Union he will not delay Brexit

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the European Union on Monday that the Brexit ball was in its court and that the bloc should now urgently discuss in detail his proposal for breaking the deadlock ahead of Britain's scheduled departure on October 31.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the European Union on Monday that the Brexit ball was in its court and that the bloc should now urgently discuss in detail his proposal for breaking the deadlock ahead of Britain's scheduled departure on October 31. With just 24 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU, both sides are positioning themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit. EU leaders reacted coolly to Johnson's last-ditch proposals to bridge the impasse, indicating just how far apart the two sides are over the first departure of a sovereign state from the EU, which was forged from Europe's ruins after World War Two. "What we're saying to our friends is (that) this is a very generous, fair and reasonable offer we've made. What we'd like to hear from you now is what your thoughts are," Johnson told reporters. "If you have issues with any of the proposals that we've come up with, then let's get into the detail and discuss them," he said, reiterating his position that the United Kingdom would leave the EU on Oct. 31. At stake are the unity of the United Kingdom, global growth and the future shape of the European project. Johnson made his proposal to the EU last Wednesday, offering a possible compromise on the Irish border - the most contentious issue - that drew a polite but cool reception from the EU. He went further than many had expected on trying to solve the dilemma over the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland by proposing an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods. This would replace the so-called "backstop" arrangement he says Britain cannot accept. However, Northern Ireland would leave the EU's customs area along with the rest of the UK and the province's institutions would have the power to remain in or to exit the regulatory zone - possibly a step too far for Ireland and the EU. Brexit crunch Johnson outlined his latest proposals in a telephone call to French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, an Elysee official said. Macron urged Johnson to engage in detailed discussions with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, the official said. "The president told him the negotiations should continue swiftly with Michel Barnier's team in coming days, in order to evaluate at the end of the week whether a deal is possible that respects European Union principles," the official said. The EU must match the compromises made by Britain to secure a Brexit deal, Johnson's spokesman said on Monday. The spokesman acknowledged that the talks on a Brexit deal were subject to time pressure, and said Johnson was engaging with foreign leaders on the plans he had proposed. "We are ready to talk to the EU at pace to secure a deal so that we can move on and build a new partnership between the UK and the EU, but if this is to be possible, the EU must match the compromises that the UK has made," the spokesman said. "The PM still believes there is an opportunity to get a deal done, but the EU must understand, in order to achieve that, the backstop has to be removed." The backstop aims to avoid the imposition of any border checks on the island of Ireland after Brexit. Johnson argues that it would either split Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom in the area of customs or else risk trapping the whole UK in a permanent customs union with the EU.

British Prime Minister Johnson tells EU: Brexit ball is in your court now

Britain is open to some flexibility on the proposed mechanism that would allow lawmakers in post-Brexit Northern Ireland to decide whether the British province remains in regulatory alignment with the European Union, its Brexit minister said.

The mechanism, set out in London's latest Brexit proposals, aims to resolve the biggest sticking point in negotiations: the currently seamless border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

"The key issue is the principle of consent, that's why the backstop was rejected three times, that was the concern in terms of both sides in Northern Ireland not approving of the backstop," Stephen Barclay told the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday.

"So the key is the principle of consent, now of course in the mechanism, as part of the intensive negotiations we could look at that and discuss that."

The 500-km (300-mile) border will be the United Kingdom's only land frontier with the bloc after it leaves.

The problem is how to prevent Northern Ireland becoming a "back door" into the EU's single market and customs union without erecting border controls that could undermine the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland in which more than 3,600 people were killed.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he cannot accept the so-called backstop arrangement included in the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU by his predecessor Theresa May, which British lawmakers rejected three times.

He made what he called a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday that centres on replacing the backstop with a proposal for an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods.

The proposal also says the legislative assembly in Northern Ireland -- which has been suspended since 2017 -- would have the right to decide every four years whether it wants to continue to abide by EU rules on traded goods.

The European Union and Ireland, however, said the proposals were unlikely to result in a deal without more concessions.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he did not fully understand how the British proposals might work and that Dublin could not sign up to a treaty that did not safeguard an open Irish-British border.

His deputy, Simon Coveney, said giving the Northern Ireland Assembly a vote on single market alignment would in effect give a veto to any one party.

He also raised concerns about the proposed customs arrangements that would require checks and controls even if, as proposed, they do not take place at or near the border.

Barclay said Britain was willing to discuss the detail of customs proposals, adding: "We have set out a broad landing zone, in the detail of the negotiations, of course we can get into the details of how operationally they work, what legal certainty is required."

No dither

Writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper, Johnson said the proposals were a "practical compromise that gives ground where necessary while still protecting the UK's interests and the Brexit this country voted for".

He said lawmakers from every wing of his Conservative Party, from his allies in Northern Ireland's DUP and even from the opposition Labour Party had said they could get behind the deal.

"And I salute the spirit of compromise from MPs on all sides who have looked at what's on the table, reflected on what's best for their constituents, and decided they are willing to put aside their personal beliefs and back the deal that they know will get Brexit done," he said.

With the Oct. 31 deadline approaching, Johnson has consistently said he will not ask for another delay to Brexit, but also that he will not break a law that forces him to request one if no withdrawal deal has been agreed by Oct. 19. He has not explained the apparent contradiction in his comments.

Johnson discussed his proposals with French President Emmanuel Macron and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Sunday.

He urged Macron to "push forward" to secure a deal and said the EU should not be lured into the mistaken belief that the UK would stay in the EU after Oct.31, Number 10 said.

Macron told Johnson that talks should continue swiftly with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier's team in the coming days, in order to evaluate at the end of the week whether a deal is possible that respects European Union principles, according to an Elysee official.

Johnson said in the Sun on Sunday that Britain could do a deal if the EU was willing.

"But they should be under no illusions or misapprehensions," he said. "There will be no more dither or delay. On Oct. 31 we are going to get Brexit done."

A senior source in Johnson's office said on Sunday there was a chance to get a deal done: a deal that is backed by lawmakers and a deal which involves compromise on all sides.

"The UK has made a big, important offer but it's time for the Commission to show a willingness to compromise too," the source said. "If not the UK will leave with no deal."

The government acknowledged for the first time on Friday that Johnson will send a letter to the EU asking for a Brexit delay if no divorce deal has been reached.

Britain is open to some flexibility on the proposed mechanism that would allow lawmakers in post-Brexit Northern Ireland to decide whether the British province remains in regulatory alignment with the European Union, its Brexit minister said.

Britain is open to some flexibility on the proposed mechanism that would allow lawmakers in post-Brexit Northern Ireland to decide whether the British province remains in regulatory alignment with the European Union, its Brexit minister said. The mechanism, set out in London's latest Brexit proposals, aims to resolve the biggest sticking point in negotiations: the currently seamless border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. "The key issue is the principle of consent, that's why the backstop was rejected three times, that was the concern in terms of both sides in Northern Ireland not approving of the backstop," Stephen Barclay told the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday. "So the key is the principle of consent, now of course in the mechanism, as part of the intensive negotiations we could look at that and discuss that." The 500-km (300-mile) border will be the United Kingdom's only land frontier with the bloc after it leaves. The problem is how to prevent Northern Ireland becoming a "back door" into the EU's single market and customs union without erecting border controls that could undermine the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland in which more than 3,600 people were killed. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he cannot accept the so-called backstop arrangement included in the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the EU by his predecessor Theresa May, which British lawmakers rejected three times. He made what he called a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday that centres on replacing the backstop with a proposal for an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods. The proposal also says the legislative assembly in Northern Ireland -- which has been suspended since 2017 -- would have the right to decide every four years whether it wants to continue to abide by EU rules on traded goods. The European Union and Ireland, however, said the proposals were unlikely to result in a deal without more concessions. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he did not fully understand how the British proposals might work and that Dublin could not sign up to a treaty that did not safeguard an open Irish-British border. His deputy, Simon Coveney, said giving the Northern Ireland Assembly a vote on single market alignment would in effect give a veto to any one party. He also raised concerns about the proposed customs arrangements that would require checks and controls even if, as proposed, they do not take place at or near the border. Barclay said Britain was willing to discuss the detail of customs proposals, adding: "We have set out a broad landing zone, in the detail of the negotiations, of course we can get into the details of how operationally they work, what legal certainty is required." No dither Writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper, Johnson said the proposals were a "practical compromise that gives ground where necessary while still protecting the UK's interests and the Brexit this country voted for". He said lawmakers from every wing of his Conservative Party, from his allies in Northern Ireland's DUP and even from the opposition Labour Party had said they could get behind the deal. "And I salute the spirit of compromise from MPs on all sides who have looked at what's on the table, reflected on what's best for their constituents, and decided they are willing to put aside their personal beliefs and back the deal that they know will get Brexit done," he said. With the Oct. 31 deadline approaching, Johnson has consistently said he will not ask for another delay to Brexit, but also that he will not break a law that forces him to request one if no withdrawal deal has been agreed by Oct. 19. He has not explained the apparent contradiction in his comments. Johnson discussed his proposals with French President Emmanuel Macron and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Sunday. He urged Macron to "push forward" to secure a deal and said the EU should not be lured into the mistaken belief that the UK would stay in the EU after Oct.31, Number 10 said. Macron told Johnson that talks should continue swiftly with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier's team in the coming days, in order to evaluate at the end of the week whether a deal is possible that respects European Union principles, according to an Elysee official. Johnson said in the Sun on Sunday that Britain could do a deal if the EU was willing. "But they should be under no illusions or misapprehensions," he said. "There will be no more dither or delay. On Oct. 31 we are going to get Brexit done." A senior source in Johnson's office said on Sunday there was a chance to get a deal done: a deal that is backed by lawmakers and a deal which involves compromise on all sides. "The UK has made a big, important offer but it's time for the Commission to show a willingness to compromise too," the source said. "If not the UK will leave with no deal." The government acknowledged for the first time on Friday that Johnson will send a letter to the EU asking for a Brexit delay if no divorce deal has been reached.

UK could be flexible on details of Northern Ireland veto, customs plan, says Brexit minister

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson started phoning EU leaders Saturday to sell his proposals for a managed Brexit, but he met with pressure to revise his offer -- and to do so quickly.

Finnish counterpart Antti Rinne -- whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union -- said he told Johnson "it is important to find a solution within a week".

"Johnson said he agreed with the timetable," Rinne added.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte tweeted that he had spoken with Johnson by phone and told him "important questions remain about the British proposals" and "there is a lot of work to be done ahead" of a crucial EU summit on October 17-18.

The British leader was expected to call the leaders of other EU countries in the wake of his proposals being given short shrift by Brussels after they were submitted Wednesday.&nbsp;

As they stand, "the UK proposals do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement," a European Commission spokeswoman underlined Friday.

Talks Friday between a top UK Brexit official, David Frost, and the EU team headed by top negotiator Michel Barnier broke up without progress.&nbsp;

They were to resume Monday, despite the UK having been keen for them to continue through the weekend.

Johnson on Saturday called his plan "a practical compromise that gives ground where necessary" but has also previously suggested it was a broad "landing zone" -- which to Brussels suggests he might yet budge on issues it finds unacceptable.

But in identical articles for the Brexit-backing British tabloids the Sunday Express and the Sun on Sunday, Johnson said the bloc now needed to show "its own willingness to do a deal that the UK Parliament can support".

"They should be under no illusions or misapprehensions," he added.&nbsp;

"There will be no more dither or delay. On October 31 we are going to get Brexit done."

A week's window

European diplomats say London needs to offer revised, viable proposals before the end of next week so any haggling and legalistic work is done before the summit, which will determine whether Britain is headed for an agreement, no-deal, or an extension.

The EU refuses to characterise the talks held so far as negotiations, preferring to resurrect a Brexit withdrawal agreement struck with Johnson's predecessor Theresa May that has been rejected three times by British MPs.

The main sticking point is a "backstop" for Northern Ireland that under the May agreement would have seen all the UK, or at least Northern Ireland, remaining in the EU's customs union.

It is meant to guarantee no border springs up between the British territory and EU member Ireland -- which would threaten the hard-won Good Friday peace accord -- while also maintaining the integrity of the EU's single market.

Britain's current idea for an alternative is for untried technology to remove the need for most but not all border checks, and for EU standards on goods to continue to apply in Northern Ireland to facilitate trade.

This border plan is not acceptable for the EU. It sees the potential for rampant smuggling, especially as Johnson intends for the rest of the UK to diverge from EU labour, environmental and tax norms to aim for a regulation-lite economy on Europe's doorstep.&nbsp;

"I made clear that the proposed solutions do not ensure the respect of the Good Friday Agreement, EU unity or the integrity of the single market," Ritte said.

Early UK elections possible

Nor does the EU agree with a proposal giving Northern Ireland's assembly an effective veto over the post-Brexit customs arrangement.

If Johnson does not alter those points, it is hard to see the EU moving talks into the negotiation phase.

Yet if he bends on them, Johnson risks losing tenuous support in the UK parliament to maybe pass a Brexit deal, reliant on 10 Democratic Unionist MPs from Northern Ireland and hard-core Brexit MPs in his Conservative Party.

If thwarted, Johnson's best bet may lie with early elections -- but those could only happen after the date he has said Brexit would happen.&nbsp;

There he also faces a challenge, with the UK parliament having passed a law requiring him to seek a Brexit extension from the EU by October 19 if he has not reached a deal by then.

British media speculation that Johnson might get Hungary to break EU ranks and prevent the required unanimity for an extension was denied by Budapest.

Hungary "was not approached to aid in vetoing a possible extension of Brexit," its foreign ministry said in a statement to AFP.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson started phoning EU leaders Saturday to sell his proposals for a managed Brexit, but he met with pressure to revise his offer -- and to do so quickly.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson started phoning EU leaders Saturday to sell his proposals for a managed Brexit, but he met with pressure to revise his offer -- and to do so quickly. Finnish counterpart Antti Rinne -- whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union -- said he told Johnson "it is important to find a solution within a week". "Johnson said he agreed with the timetable," Rinne added. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte tweeted that he had spoken with Johnson by phone and told him "important questions remain about the British proposals" and "there is a lot of work to be done ahead" of a crucial EU summit on October 17-18. The British leader was expected to call the leaders of other EU countries in the wake of his proposals being given short shrift by Brussels after they were submitted Wednesday. As they stand, "the UK proposals do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement," a European Commission spokeswoman underlined Friday. Talks Friday between a top UK Brexit official, David Frost, and the EU team headed by top negotiator Michel Barnier broke up without progress. They were to resume Monday, despite the UK having been keen for them to continue through the weekend. Johnson on Saturday called his plan "a practical compromise that gives ground where necessary" but has also previously suggested it was a broad "landing zone" -- which to Brussels suggests he might yet budge on issues it finds unacceptable. But in identical articles for the Brexit-backing British tabloids the Sunday Express and the Sun on Sunday, Johnson said the bloc now needed to show "its own willingness to do a deal that the UK Parliament can support". "They should be under no illusions or misapprehensions," he added. "There will be no more dither or delay. On October 31 we are going to get Brexit done." A week's window European diplomats say London needs to offer revised, viable proposals before the end of next week so any haggling and legalistic work is done before the summit, which will determine whether Britain is headed for an agreement, no-deal, or an extension. The EU refuses to characterise the talks held so far as negotiations, preferring to resurrect a Brexit withdrawal agreement struck with Johnson's predecessor Theresa May that has been rejected three times by British MPs. The main sticking point is a "backstop" for Northern Ireland that under the May agreement would have seen all the UK, or at least Northern Ireland, remaining in the EU's customs union. It is meant to guarantee no border springs up between the British territory and EU member Ireland -- which would threaten the hard-won Good Friday peace accord -- while also maintaining the integrity of the EU's single market. Britain's current idea for an alternative is for untried technology to remove the need for most but not all border checks, and for EU standards on goods to continue to apply in Northern Ireland to facilitate trade. This border plan is not acceptable for the EU. It sees the potential for rampant smuggling, especially as Johnson intends for the rest of the UK to diverge from EU labour, environmental and tax norms to aim for a regulation-lite economy on Europe's doorstep. "I made clear that the proposed solutions do not ensure the respect of the Good Friday Agreement, EU unity or the integrity of the single market," Ritte said. Early UK elections possible Nor does the EU agree with a proposal giving Northern Ireland's assembly an effective veto over the post-Brexit customs arrangement. If Johnson does not alter those points, it is hard to see the EU moving talks into the negotiation phase. Yet if he bends on them, Johnson risks losing tenuous support in the UK parliament to maybe pass a Brexit deal, reliant on 10 Democratic Unionist MPs from Northern Ireland and hard-core Brexit MPs in his Conservative Party. If thwarted, Johnson's best bet may lie with early elections -- but those could only happen after the date he has said Brexit would happen. There he also faces a challenge, with the UK parliament having passed a law requiring him to seek a Brexit extension from the EU by October 19 if he has not reached a deal by then. British media speculation that Johnson might get Hungary to break EU ranks and prevent the required unanimity for an extension was denied by Budapest. Hungary "was not approached to aid in vetoing a possible extension of Brexit," its foreign ministry said in a statement to AFP.

European Union presses UK to resubmit Brexit plan as end-game looms

The European Union and Ireland said on Thursday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals were unlikely to yield a deal, with Dublin bluntly warning that Britain was heading towards a no-deal exit unless it made more concessions.

The European Union said it fully backed Ireland and that while it was open to discussions, it was still unconvinced about Johnson's plan - cast by British officials as the final offer to avert a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31.

Just 28 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU, both sides are positioning themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit.

Johnson says he wants an agreement but insists there can be no further Brexit postponement.

The cool reception from Brussels to Johnson's proposal indicates just how far apart the two sides are on the first departure of a sovereign state from the EU, which was forged from Europe's ruins after World War Two.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is key to any possible deal, said he did not fully understand how the British proposals might work and that Dublin could not sign up to a treaty that did not safeguard an open Irish-British border.

Varadkar's deputy, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, went further, saying that if Johnson's proposals were final then a no-deal Brexit lay ahead.

"My judgement is that Boris Johnson does want a deal and that the paper that was published yesterday was an effort to move us in the direction of a deal. But...if that is the final proposal, there will be no deal," Coveney told parliament.

European Council President Donald Tusk said the bloc remained fully united behind Ireland.

"We remain open but still unconvinced," Tusk said. After speaking to Varadkar, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the proposal had a number of problematic issues.

Johnson made what his office said was his final Brexit pitch to the EU on Wednesday, offering a possible compromise on the most contentious issue that initially drew a cautious welcome by the EU.

Johnson went further than many expected on trying to solve the dilemma over the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland - with a proposal for an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods. This would replace the so-called "backstop" arrangement he says he cannot accept.

Besides the concession, however, Johnson proposed giving Northern Ireland's institutions the ongoing power to abide by or exit the regulatory zone - a possible step too far for Ireland and the EU.

Johnson's Northern Irish allies poured scorn on their Irish neighbours for their negative reaction to Johnson's offer and said their stance paved the way for a no-deal exit.

"The proposal won't be amended," said Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. "We are certainly moving into the territory of no-deal despite the fact that our prime minister has put forward a reasonable deal to the European Union.

'Can't fly'

While the EU was careful not to dismiss the British proposals outright, officials in Brussels were extremely cool about the move.

It can only be a starting point to more talks, according to officials and diplomats dealing with Brexit in EU hub Brussels.

"It does not contain any decent solution for customs. And it erects a hard border on the island of Ireland," said a senior EU official, saying the plan "can't fly" as it stands.

An EU diplomat said the plan would need to be fundamentally reworked to become acceptable. Time was short before EU leaders meet in Brussels on Oct. 17 and 18 for a make-or-break Brexit summit, the person said.

Amid so much pessimism about the possibility of a deal in just weeks, many diplomats say a phoney struggle is underway between London and Brussels to apportion responsibility for any failure.

Johnson, who has also tried unsuccessfully to hold an election, says he wants to strike a deal at the EU summit. But a law passed by his opponents in parliament forces him to delay Brexit unless he strikes a deal, something he says is "pointless and expensive".

While the divorce accord struck by Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, was rejected three times by the British parliament, Johnson received cautious support on Thursday from many of the pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers who helped defeat May's deal.

Steve Baker, the head of the influential eurosceptic European Research Group of Conservatives, described the government's proposals as "the possibility of a tolerable deal".

"While as I stand here today we are some way from a resolution, it is to the credit of our European friends that they have accepted the need to address these issues," Johnson told parliament.

"We have made a genuine attempt to bridge the chasm, to reconcile the apparently irreconcilable. And to go the extra mile as time runs short."

The European Union and Ireland said on Thursday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals were unlikely to yield a deal, with Dublin bluntly warning that Britain was heading towards a no-deal exit unless it made more concessions.

The European Union and Ireland said on Thursday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit proposals were unlikely to yield a deal, with Dublin bluntly warning that Britain was heading towards a no-deal exit unless it made more concessions. The European Union said it fully backed Ireland and that while it was open to discussions, it was still unconvinced about Johnson's plan - cast by British officials as the final offer to avert a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31. Just 28 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU, both sides are positioning themselves to avoid blame for a delay or a disorderly no-deal Brexit. Johnson says he wants an agreement but insists there can be no further Brexit postponement. The cool reception from Brussels to Johnson's proposal indicates just how far apart the two sides are on the first departure of a sovereign state from the EU, which was forged from Europe's ruins after World War Two. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is key to any possible deal, said he did not fully understand how the British proposals might work and that Dublin could not sign up to a treaty that did not safeguard an open Irish-British border. Varadkar's deputy, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, went further, saying that if Johnson's proposals were final then a no-deal Brexit lay ahead. "My judgement is that Boris Johnson does want a deal and that the paper that was published yesterday was an effort to move us in the direction of a deal. But...if that is the final proposal, there will be no deal," Coveney told parliament. European Council President Donald Tusk said the bloc remained fully united behind Ireland. "We remain open but still unconvinced," Tusk said. After speaking to Varadkar, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the proposal had a number of problematic issues. Johnson made what his office said was his final Brexit pitch to the EU on Wednesday, offering a possible compromise on the most contentious issue that initially drew a cautious welcome by the EU. Johnson went further than many expected on trying to solve the dilemma over the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland - with a proposal for an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods. This would replace the so-called "backstop" arrangement he says he cannot accept. Besides the concession, however, Johnson proposed giving Northern Ireland's institutions the ongoing power to abide by or exit the regulatory zone - a possible step too far for Ireland and the EU. Johnson's Northern Irish allies poured scorn on their Irish neighbours for their negative reaction to Johnson's offer and said their stance paved the way for a no-deal exit. "The proposal won't be amended," said Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. "We are certainly moving into the territory of no-deal despite the fact that our prime minister has put forward a reasonable deal to the European Union. 'Can't fly' While the EU was careful not to dismiss the British proposals outright, officials in Brussels were extremely cool about the move. It can only be a starting point to more talks, according to officials and diplomats dealing with Brexit in EU hub Brussels. "It does not contain any decent solution for customs. And it erects a hard border on the island of Ireland," said a senior EU official, saying the plan "can't fly" as it stands. An EU diplomat said the plan would need to be fundamentally reworked to become acceptable. Time was short before EU leaders meet in Brussels on Oct. 17 and 18 for a make-or-break Brexit summit, the person said. Amid so much pessimism about the possibility of a deal in just weeks, many diplomats say a phoney struggle is underway between London and Brussels to apportion responsibility for any failure. Johnson, who has also tried unsuccessfully to hold an election, says he wants to strike a deal at the EU summit. But a law passed by his opponents in parliament forces him to delay Brexit unless he strikes a deal, something he says is "pointless and expensive". While the divorce accord struck by Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, was rejected three times by the British parliament, Johnson received cautious support on Thursday from many of the pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers who helped defeat May's deal. Steve Baker, the head of the influential eurosceptic European Research Group of Conservatives, described the government's proposals as "the possibility of a tolerable deal". "While as I stand here today we are some way from a resolution, it is to the credit of our European friends that they have accepted the need to address these issues," Johnson told parliament. "We have made a genuine attempt to bridge the chasm, to reconcile the apparently irreconcilable. And to go the extra mile as time runs short."

EU and Ireland sceptical of a Brexit breakthrough after PM Johnson's offer

UK PM Boris Johnson will send a letter to EU asking for Brexit Delay.

Is a Brexit Delay Inevitable?

EU and UK officials are to resume talks Monday on Britain's plans for a managed Brexit after a weekend hiatus during which London was under pressure to revise its proposals.

EU and UK officials are to resume talks Monday on Britain's plans for a managed Brexit after a weekend hiatus during which London was under pressure to revise its proposals. The European Commission is adamant that, as they stand, "the UK proposals do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement". That grates with Britain's government, which considers the proposals it submitted on Wednesday to be "a fair and reasonable compromise". After hours-long talks in Brussels on Friday failed to move the dial, a UK spokesman said: "We want a deal and talks continue on Monday on the basis of our offer." Time is running short for the two sides to close the gap. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determined to take his country out of the the European Union at the end of this month. An October 17-18 EU summit is to determine whether Britain is headed for a Brexit deal, no-deal, or an extension. A week's window But European diplomats emphasise that London needs to offer revised, viable proposals within days and certainly before the end of next week, so any haggling and legalistic work is done before the summit. "Everything must move very quickly and any negotiation has to start at the beginning of next week," one diplomat told. "We will evaluate next Friday whether it's been possible to bring the positions closer." Although Johnson has called his Brexit proposals a broad "landing zone" the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his team are unsure how far Britain will budge. The EU refuses to characterise the talks held so far as negotiations, underlining a preference to stick with a Brexit withdrawal agreement that was struck with Johnson's predecessor Theresa May but rejected three times by British MPs. 'Backstop' headache The main sticking point is a "backstop" for Northern Ireland. That is meant to guarantee no border springs up between the British territory and EU member Ireland, threatening a hard-won peace accord, while also maintaining the integrity of the EU's single market. Britain's current idea for an alternative to the backstop -- which would see all the UK, or at least Northern Ireland, remaining in the EU's customs union -- is for untried technology to remove the need for most but not all border checks, and for EU standards on goods to continue to apply in Northern Ireland to facilitate trade. The border plan is not acceptable for the EU. It sees the potential for rampant smuggling, especially as Johnson intends for the rest of the UK to diverge from EU labour, environmental and tax norms to aim for a regulation-lite economy on Europe's doorstep. Nor does the EU agree with a proposal that Northern Ireland's assembly be given a right to effectively veto the post-Brexit customs arrangement. If either of those two proposals are red lines for Johnson, it is hard to see the EU moving talks into the negotiation phase. Yet if he bends on them, he risks losing tenuous support in the UK parliament to maybe pass a Brexit deal, reliant on 10 Democratic Unionist MPs from Northern Ireland and hard-core Brexit MPs in his Conservative Party. Extension option If thwarted, Johnson's best bet may lie with early elections. There he also faces a challenge, with the UK parliament having passed a law requiring him to seek a Brexit extension from the EU by October 19 if he has not reached a deal by then. British media speculated that Johnson might seek to sabotage any extension request he is forced to make against his will. One path included his ministers asking an EU member state to block the unanimous approval needed for an extension, with Hungary cited as a likely ally to break EU ranks. But Budapest denied Britain had approached it with such a request, and a Hungarian foreign ministry source told AFP: "To date there is no request for a delay, hence there is no point in speculating about anything."

EU presses UK to resubmit Brexit plan as end-game looms

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - October 4th, 2019

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday, pitching a possible compromise for a last-minute exit deal that was cautiously welcomed by the EU though the two sides remain far apart. Watch this video to know more.

British PM Boris Johnson makes final Brexit offer

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-boris-johnson-vows-to-stay-put-to-hit-october-31-brexit-deadline-252702">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson </a>has told a court he will request a Brexit delay if he fails to strike a deal with the EU by October 19, according to documents published online Friday.

Parliament has passed legislation requiring the premier to ask the other 27 EU leaders for an extension if no deal emerges from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-not-eu-needs-to-do-more-work-on-brexit-offer-brussels-253520">Brussels</a> summit on October 17-18.

But he is now facing a legal challenge to ensure he does not follow through on his threat to take Britain out of the bloc on October 31 come what may.

Johnson has repeatedly promised to both follow the law and take Britain out by the deadline -- a contradictory position prompting speculation the government may have identified a loophole to end its EU membership.

Lawyer Jo Maugham, a key opponent to Brexit and claimant in the case, posted the documents on Twitter on Friday.

He said the government had submitted documents to Scotland's highest civil court stating that Johnson "accepts that... he will send a letter (asking for an extension) by no later than 19 October 2019" if there is still no new deal.

UK media have speculated Johnson could still try to get Brexit done on time by sending a second letter alongside the request, stating he did not want the extension and was only following the law.

Others suggested he could ask one of the EU leaders to veto the extension, which requires unanimous support.

According to the documents submitted to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Johnson says he accepts "he is subject to the public law principle that he cannot frustrate its purpose or the purpose of its provisions.

"Thus he cannot act so as to prevent the letter requesting the specific extension in the act from being sent," the court document says.

Maugham said despite that, the court itself could still decide "to sign the letter for the prime minister" if Johnson still tried to stick to his promise to leave on October 31.

He and others behind the case also want the court to require Johnson to seek an extension to avoid leaving the EU without a deal.

A full hearing would be set for Tuesday if the judge decided to issue a formal ruling in the case, Maugham said. 
&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told a court he will request a Brexit delay if he fails to strike a deal with the EU by October 19, according to documents published online Friday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told a court he will request a Brexit delay if he fails to strike a deal with the EU by October 19, according to documents published online Friday. Parliament has passed legislation requiring the premier to ask the other 27 EU leaders for an extension if no deal emerges from a Brussels summit on October 17-18. But he is now facing a legal challenge to ensure he does not follow through on his threat to take Britain out of the bloc on October 31 come what may. Johnson has repeatedly promised to both follow the law and take Britain out by the deadline -- a contradictory position prompting speculation the government may have identified a loophole to end its EU membership. Lawyer Jo Maugham, a key opponent to Brexit and claimant in the case, posted the documents on Twitter on Friday. He said the government had submitted documents to Scotland's highest civil court stating that Johnson "accepts that... he will send a letter (asking for an extension) by no later than 19 October 2019" if there is still no new deal. UK media have speculated Johnson could still try to get Brexit done on time by sending a second letter alongside the request, stating he did not want the extension and was only following the law. Others suggested he could ask one of the EU leaders to veto the extension, which requires unanimous support. According to the documents submitted to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Johnson says he accepts "he is subject to the public law principle that he cannot frustrate its purpose or the purpose of its provisions. "Thus he cannot act so as to prevent the letter requesting the specific extension in the act from being sent," the court document says. Maugham said despite that, the court itself could still decide "to sign the letter for the prime minister" if Johnson still tried to stick to his promise to leave on October 31. He and others behind the case also want the court to require Johnson to seek an extension to avoid leaving the EU without a deal. A full hearing would be set for Tuesday if the judge decided to issue a formal ruling in the case, Maugham said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells court he may seek Brexit delay: Report

Why the UK's Brexit proposal falls short for the European Union

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/brexit-row-boris-johnson-defeated-by-uk-supreme-court-but-he-could-still-emerge-as-a-winner-251957">Boris Johnson </a>made a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday, pitching a possible compromise for a last-minute exit deal that was cautiously welcomed by the EU though the two sides remain far apart.

In what Johnson's supporters cast as a moment of truth after more than three years of Brexit crisis, Johnson urged Brussels to compromise but warned that if it did not then Britain would leave the European Union without a deal on October 31.

Watch: British PM Boris Johnson plans to suspend parliament again from October 8

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/british-pm-boris-johnson-plans-to-suspend-parliament-again-from-october-8-253411/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Johnson went further than many expected on the most contentious issue - the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and European Union member Ireland - with a proposal for an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods, replacing the so-called backstop arrangement he says he cannot accept.

Besides the concession though, Johnson proposed giving Northern Ireland institutions the ongoing power to abide by or exit the regulatory zone - a possible step too far for Ireland and the European Union.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed "positive advances" in Johnson's proposals, such as the full regulatory alignment for all goods, but noted some problems.

"There are still some problematic points that will need further work in the coming days, notably with regards to the governance of the backstop," the Commission said in a statement issued after Johnson and Juncker spoke on a call.

"The European Union wants a deal. We remain united and ready to work 24/7 to make this happen – as we have been for over three years now," it said.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Johnson that the proposals did not fully meet agreed objectives, his spokesman said after the two leaders spoke by phone, but agreed to study them in more detail and consult with EU partners.

With less than a month left until Britain is due to leave the EU, the future of Brexit, its most significant geopolitical move since World War Two, is uncertain. It could leave with a deal or without one - or not leave at all.

Deutsche Bank said it saw a 50 percent chance of a no-deal Brexit by the end of the year. This would spook financial markets, send shockwaves through the global economy, snarl ports on both sides of the Channel and divide the West.

Phoney Brexit battle

While London's last-minute proposals do mark some movement on the Irish border, the biggest sticking point of the Brexit negotiations, many EU diplomats are convinced that the United Kingdom is heading towards either a delay or a no-deal exit.

Johnson says he wants to get a deal at an October 17-18 European Union summit. A law passed by his opponents forces him to delay Brexit unless he strikes a deal. Johnson said further delay was "pointless and expensive".

Amid so much pessimism about the possibility of a deal in just weeks, many diplomats say a phoney struggle is underway between London and Brussels to apportion blame.

"It's a game of cat and mouse," said one EU diplomat.Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the proposals marked progress but more work was needed. Guy Verhofstadt, head of the European Parliament's Brexit Steering Group, was less convinced.

Asked by a reporter if the proposal was a serious attempt to break the deadlock or designed to shift the blame on to Brussels if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, he said: "I think that last point was not so bad."

Raoul Ruparel, former Europe adviser to Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, said the offer appeared unlikely to win over the EU.

"I cannot see the EU and Ireland agreeing to these proposals, they may not even see them as a basis for negotiations," he told Reuters.

Opposition Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson's proposals were too vague and that the EU would not accept them.

Irish problem

Ireland, whose 500 km (300 mile) land border with the United Kingdom will become the frontier of the EU's single market and customs union after Brexit, is crucial to any deal.

The problem is how to prevent Northern Ireland becoming a "back door" into the EU market without erecting border controls that could undermine the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA), which ended decades of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland in which more than 3,600 people were killed.

Britain said its proposals were compatible with the peace agreement and suggested a zone of regulatory compliance across Northern Ireland and the EU to eliminate checks for trade in goods.

Before the end of a transition period after Brexit in December 2020, the Northern Ireland assembly and executive that were established under the 1998 deal would be required to give their consent to this arrangement and every four years afterwards, the seven-page document said.

Northern Ireland would stay part of the United Kingdom's customs territory but to avoid customs checks, a declaration system would be introduced with a simplified process for small traders, along with a trusted-traders scheme.

"We are tabling what I believe are constructive and reasonable proposals which provide a compromise for both sides," Johnson said in a speech to his Conservative party's annual conference. "I hope very much that our friends understand that and compromise in their turn."

Asked if the proposal meant Britain expected the EU to change its customs rules, a UK official said: "We are asking them that because we agreed there will be flexible and creative solutions on the island of Ireland and part of it is adjusting legislation to enable it."

The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party, supporters of British rule of the province who back Johnson's government, welcomed his proposals, saying they ensured that Northern Ireland would be out of the customs union and single market.

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the proposals gave his party an effective veto over regulatory alignment with the EU, allowing them to back the plan.

Some lawmakers in Britain's opposition Labour Party also signalled they could back the deal in a parliamentary vote if it was accepted by Europe and Dublin.

A senior British official said: "The government is either going to be negotiating a new deal or working on no deal - nobody will work on delay."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday, pitching a possible compromise for a last-minute exit deal that was cautiously welcomed by the EU though the two sides remain far apart.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a final Brexit offer to the European Union on Wednesday, pitching a possible compromise for a last-minute exit deal that was cautiously welcomed by the EU though the two sides remain far apart. In what Johnson's supporters cast as a moment of truth after more than three years of Brexit crisis, Johnson urged Brussels to compromise but warned that if it did not then Britain would leave the European Union without a deal on October 31. Watch: British PM Boris Johnson plans to suspend parliament again from October 8 Johnson went further than many expected on the most contentious issue - the border between British-ruled Northern Ireland and European Union member Ireland - with a proposal for an all-island regulatory zone to cover all goods, replacing the so-called backstop arrangement he says he cannot accept. Besides the concession though, Johnson proposed giving Northern Ireland institutions the ongoing power to abide by or exit the regulatory zone - a possible step too far for Ireland and the European Union. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed "positive advances" in Johnson's proposals, such as the full regulatory alignment for all goods, but noted some problems. "There are still some problematic points that will need further work in the coming days, notably with regards to the governance of the backstop," the Commission said in a statement issued after Johnson and Juncker spoke on a call. "The European Union wants a deal. We remain united and ready to work 24/7 to make this happen – as we have been for over three years now," it said. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Johnson that the proposals did not fully meet agreed objectives, his spokesman said after the two leaders spoke by phone, but agreed to study them in more detail and consult with EU partners. With less than a month left until Britain is due to leave the EU, the future of Brexit, its most significant geopolitical move since World War Two, is uncertain. It could leave with a deal or without one - or not leave at all. Deutsche Bank said it saw a 50 percent chance of a no-deal Brexit by the end of the year. This would spook financial markets, send shockwaves through the global economy, snarl ports on both sides of the Channel and divide the West. Phoney Brexit battle While London's last-minute proposals do mark some movement on the Irish border, the biggest sticking point of the Brexit negotiations, many EU diplomats are convinced that the United Kingdom is heading towards either a delay or a no-deal exit. Johnson says he wants to get a deal at an October 17-18 European Union summit. A law passed by his opponents forces him to delay Brexit unless he strikes a deal. Johnson said further delay was "pointless and expensive". Amid so much pessimism about the possibility of a deal in just weeks, many diplomats say a phoney struggle is underway between London and Brussels to apportion blame. "It's a game of cat and mouse," said one EU diplomat.Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the proposals marked progress but more work was needed. Guy Verhofstadt, head of the European Parliament's Brexit Steering Group, was less convinced. Asked by a reporter if the proposal was a serious attempt to break the deadlock or designed to shift the blame on to Brussels if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, he said: "I think that last point was not so bad." Raoul Ruparel, former Europe adviser to Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, said the offer appeared unlikely to win over the EU. "I cannot see the EU and Ireland agreeing to these proposals, they may not even see them as a basis for negotiations," he told Reuters. Opposition Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson's proposals were too vague and that the EU would not accept them. Irish problem Ireland, whose 500 km (300 mile) land border with the United Kingdom will become the frontier of the EU's single market and customs union after Brexit, is crucial to any deal. The problem is how to prevent Northern Ireland becoming a "back door" into the EU market without erecting border controls that could undermine the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA), which ended decades of political and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland in which more than 3,600 people were killed. Britain said its proposals were compatible with the peace agreement and suggested a zone of regulatory compliance across Northern Ireland and the EU to eliminate checks for trade in goods. Before the end of a transition period after Brexit in December 2020, the Northern Ireland assembly and executive that were established under the 1998 deal would be required to give their consent to this arrangement and every four years afterwards, the seven-page document said. Northern Ireland would stay part of the United Kingdom's customs territory but to avoid customs checks, a declaration system would be introduced with a simplified process for small traders, along with a trusted-traders scheme. "We are tabling what I believe are constructive and reasonable proposals which provide a compromise for both sides," Johnson said in a speech to his Conservative party's annual conference. "I hope very much that our friends understand that and compromise in their turn." Asked if the proposal meant Britain expected the EU to change its customs rules, a UK official said: "We are asking them that because we agreed there will be flexible and creative solutions on the island of Ireland and part of it is adjusting legislation to enable it." The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party, supporters of British rule of the province who back Johnson's government, welcomed his proposals, saying they ensured that Northern Ireland would be out of the customs union and single market. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the proposals gave his party an effective veto over regulatory alignment with the EU, allowing them to back the plan. Some lawmakers in Britain's opposition Labour Party also signalled they could back the deal in a parliamentary vote if it was accepted by Europe and Dublin. A senior British official said: "The government is either going to be negotiating a new deal or working on no deal - nobody will work on delay."

Boris Johnson makes final Brexit offer, draws guarded welcome from European Union

UK PM Boris Johnson unveils new Brexit proposal. Watch video to know more.

UK PM Boris Johnson unveils new Brexit proposal

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It is up to Britain, not Brussels, to address problems the EU sees in the UK's latest Brexit proposal, a spokeswoman for the European Commission said Thursday.

"As we have said there are problematic points in the United Kingdom's proposal and further work is needed. But that work needs to be done by the United Kingdom and not the other way around," spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud told a media briefing.

The British government on Wednesday submitted its proposal for a new withdrawal agreement from the European Union to back up Prime Minister Boris Johnson's vow to pull his country out of the bloc on October 31.

While the EU has cautiously said the document contained some progress on the sticking point of Northern Ireland it also had problems.&nbsp;

Those are understood to focus on the reliance on UK good will and untested technology to prevent a border springing up anew between the British province and EU member Ireland, and a provision periodically allowing part of the Northern Ireland assembly to veto the agreement.

Johnson's ministers have suggested that, having handed over the Brexit proposal, the ball was now in the EU's court.

But the spokeswoman said "we would disagree."

She added: "We would remind you that it's the UK leaving the European Union and not the European Union leaving the UK and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that exit is on an orderly basis.

"And we are willing to engage constructively with our counterparts. But we are not going to be the ones left holding the bag, the ball or any other kind of object."

It is up to Britain, not Brussels, to address problems the EU sees in the UK's latest Brexit proposal, a spokeswoman for the European Commission said Thursday. "As we have said there are problematic points in the United Kingdom's proposal and further work is needed.

It is up to Britain, not Brussels, to address problems the EU sees in the UK's latest Brexit proposal, a spokeswoman for the European Commission said Thursday. "As we have said there are problematic points in the United Kingdom's proposal and further work is needed. But that work needs to be done by the United Kingdom and not the other way around," spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud told a media briefing. The British government on Wednesday submitted its proposal for a new withdrawal agreement from the European Union to back up Prime Minister Boris Johnson's vow to pull his country out of the bloc on October 31. While the EU has cautiously said the document contained some progress on the sticking point of Northern Ireland it also had problems. Those are understood to focus on the reliance on UK good will and untested technology to prevent a border springing up anew between the British province and EU member Ireland, and a provision periodically allowing part of the Northern Ireland assembly to veto the agreement. Johnson's ministers have suggested that, having handed over the Brexit proposal, the ball was now in the EU's court. But the spokeswoman said "we would disagree." She added: "We would remind you that it's the UK leaving the European Union and not the European Union leaving the UK and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that exit is on an orderly basis. "And we are willing to engage constructively with our counterparts. But we are not going to be the ones left holding the bag, the ball or any other kind of object."

UK, not EU, needs to do more work on Brexit offer: Brussels

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-prime-minister-johnson-to-submit-brexit-grand-bargain-but-ireland-sceptical-253001">Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> will on Wednesday unveil his final Brexit offer to the European Union and make clear that if Brussels does not engage with the proposal, Britain will not negotiate further and will leave on October&nbsp;31.

In his closing speech to his governing Conservatives' annual conference, Johnson will stick to his hard line on Brexit, offering the party faithful the first details of what he will describe as his "fair and reasonable compromise".

With less than a month until Britain is due to leave the EU, the future of Brexit, the country's biggest trade and foreign policy shift in more than 40 years, is uncertain. Britain could leave with a deal, without one or no&nbsp;exit at all.

Johnson, who says Britain will leave the bloc on October&nbsp;31 no matter what will tell the conference he will send his proposal to Brussels, an attempt to secure a deal to smooth the country's departure and avoid a potentially damaging no-deal Brexit.

"My friends, I am afraid that after three-and-a-half years people are beginning to feel that they are being taken for fools. They are beginning to suspect that there are forces in this country that simply don't want Brexit delivered at all," he will say, according to extracts released by his office.

"Let's get Brexit done on October 31 so in 2020 our country can move on", he added.

More than three years after Britain voted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, Brexit talks are at an impasse.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-boris-johnson-vows-to-stay-put-to-hit-october-31-brexit-deadline-252702">Johnson has been firm that the October&nbsp;31 deadline will be met</a>, but parliament has put roadblocks in his way - passing a law that requires the prime minister to request a Brexit delay if he fails to secure an acceptable deal at an EU summit on October&nbsp;17.

The EU has repeatedly asked Britain to come up with "legal and operational" proposals for the changes Johnson wants to a deal his predecessor negotiated with the bloc last year.

'Nobody will work on a delay'

Following its rejection three times by parliament, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-commissions-juncker-says-britain-will-be-responsible-if-no-brexit-deal-252324">Johnson has demanded changes to the Withdrawal Agreement</a>, especially over new arrangements with the bloc for the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

But after weeks of talks, since Johnson took power that has made little headway to break the Brexit stand-off, the prime minister will make his last gambit - a new proposal which British officials describe as a final offer.

The Telegraph newspaper cited a briefing to European capitals that Britain was suggesting a plan that would leave Northern Ireland in a special relationship with the EU until 2025, after which Belfast would decide whether to remain aligned to the bloc or return to following British rules.

The proposal would be aimed at replacing the so-called backstop -&nbsp;an insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland -- that has become the biggest hurdle to securing an agreement with Brussels.

A senior British government official said: "The government is either going to be negotiating a new deal or working on no-deal — nobody will work on delay."

"We will keep fighting to respect the biggest democratic vote in British history. The EU is obliged by EU law only to negotiate with member state governments, they cannot negotiate with parliament, and this government will not negotiate delay."

Johnson has made the gamble that by pressing a hardline position on Brexit he will steal votes from parties such as the Brexit Party led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage at an election, widely expected to come before the end of the year.

He also has the main opposition Labour Party in his sights and will use his speech to attack its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who has led efforts to try to stop the prime minister taking Britain out of the EU without a deal.

"Can you imagine another three years of this? That is the Corbyn agenda – stay in the EU beyond October 31, paying $1.23 billion&nbsp;a month for the privilege, followed by years of uncertainty for business and everyone else," he will say.

"That is why we are coming out of the EU on October 31. Let's get Brexit done - we can, we must and we will", he added.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday unveil his final Brexit offer to the European Union and make clear that if Brussels does not engage with the proposal, Britain will not negotiate further and will leave on October 31.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday unveil his final Brexit offer to the European Union and make clear that if Brussels does not engage with the proposal, Britain will not negotiate further and will leave on October 31. In his closing speech to his governing Conservatives' annual conference, Johnson will stick to his hard line on Brexit, offering the party faithful the first details of what he will describe as his "fair and reasonable compromise". With less than a month until Britain is due to leave the EU, the future of Brexit, the country's biggest trade and foreign policy shift in more than 40 years, is uncertain. Britain could leave with a deal, without one or no exit at all. Johnson, who says Britain will leave the bloc on October 31 no matter what will tell the conference he will send his proposal to Brussels, an attempt to secure a deal to smooth the country's departure and avoid a potentially damaging no-deal Brexit. "My friends, I am afraid that after three-and-a-half years people are beginning to feel that they are being taken for fools. They are beginning to suspect that there are forces in this country that simply don't want Brexit delivered at all," he will say, according to extracts released by his office. "Let's get Brexit done on October 31 so in 2020 our country can move on", he added. More than three years after Britain voted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, Brexit talks are at an impasse. Johnson has been firm that the October 31 deadline will be met, but parliament has put roadblocks in his way - passing a law that requires the prime minister to request a Brexit delay if he fails to secure an acceptable deal at an EU summit on October 17. The EU has repeatedly asked Britain to come up with "legal and operational" proposals for the changes Johnson wants to a deal his predecessor negotiated with the bloc last year. 'Nobody will work on a delay' Following its rejection three times by parliament, Johnson has demanded changes to the Withdrawal Agreement, especially over new arrangements with the bloc for the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. But after weeks of talks, since Johnson took power that has made little headway to break the Brexit stand-off, the prime minister will make his last gambit - a new proposal which British officials describe as a final offer. The Telegraph newspaper cited a briefing to European capitals that Britain was suggesting a plan that would leave Northern Ireland in a special relationship with the EU until 2025, after which Belfast would decide whether to remain aligned to the bloc or return to following British rules. The proposal would be aimed at replacing the so-called backstop - an insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard border on the island of Ireland -- that has become the biggest hurdle to securing an agreement with Brussels. A senior British government official said: "The government is either going to be negotiating a new deal or working on no-deal — nobody will work on delay." "We will keep fighting to respect the biggest democratic vote in British history. The EU is obliged by EU law only to negotiate with member state governments, they cannot negotiate with parliament, and this government will not negotiate delay." Johnson has made the gamble that by pressing a hardline position on Brexit he will steal votes from parties such as the Brexit Party led by veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage at an election, widely expected to come before the end of the year. He also has the main opposition Labour Party in his sights and will use his speech to attack its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who has led efforts to try to stop the prime minister taking Britain out of the EU without a deal. "Can you imagine another three years of this? That is the Corbyn agenda – stay in the EU beyond October 31, paying $1.23 billion a month for the privilege, followed by years of uncertainty for business and everyone else," he will say. "That is why we are coming out of the EU on October 31. Let's get Brexit done - we can, we must and we will", he added.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson to unveil final Brexit offer to European Union

When The Prime Minister Of United Kingdom Was Denied A Cup Of Coffee...

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UK PM Boris Johnson under scrunity over alleged affair. Watch video to know more.

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Brexit: 30 days to go

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/brexit-row-boris-johnson-defeated-by-uk-supreme-court-but-he-could-still-emerge-as-a-winner-251957">Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> will shortly present the European Union with proposals for an amended Brexit agreement, including new ideas that remove the contested insurance policy for the Irish border that Britain previously signed up to.

More than three years since the 2016 referendum, the United Kingdom is heading towards an October&nbsp;31 exit date without a clear understanding of whether it will leave with a deal, without a deal, or even leave by that deadline.

Even before the proposals were formally made, Ireland dismissed the ideas that had been previously floated with Foreign Minister Simon Coveney quipping: "Non-Starter".

"We've made a very good offer, we're going to make a very good offer, we're going to be tabling it formally very soon," Johnson, a Brexiter who helped lead the Out campaign in the referendum, told the BBC.

"We do think there's a good way forward, we do think there's a good solution. I very much hope that our European, EU friends in Brussels, in Dublin, in Germany as well will want to take it forward," he added.

Johnson said he wanted to get rid of the hotly contested element of the Brexit divorce agreement - the Irish border backstop - and that there was no point in leaving the EU if one stayed locked in an EU customs union.

"What we want to do is to get rid of the backstop, that is the most important thing," Johnson said.

"Getting rid of the backstop is a fantastic thing because what that does is it enables the UK genuinely to take back control of our regulatory framework, our tariffs, our customs and commercial policy and it allows us to go forward with a new and exciting relationship, not just with the EU but also with the rest of the world," he said.

The backstop is an insurance policy to prevent the return of border infrastructure between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-boris-johnson-brexit-warrior-trumps-friend-chinas-frenemy-237975">Johnson brushed away criticism</a> of leaked plans to manage the Irish border after Brexit, saying comments from Brussels and Dublin were not aimed at Britain's final proposals.

"As far as I can make out from what I've seen from the response from Brussels and I think Dublin, they're not talking about the proposals that we're actually going to be taking, they're talking about some stuff that went in previously," Johnson told the BBC.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will shortly present the European Union with proposals for an amended Brexit agreement, including new ideas that remove the contested insurance policy for the Irish border that Britain previously signed up to.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will shortly present the European Union with proposals for an amended Brexit agreement, including new ideas that remove the contested insurance policy for the Irish border that Britain previously signed up to. More than three years since the 2016 referendum, the United Kingdom is heading towards an October 31 exit date without a clear understanding of whether it will leave with a deal, without a deal, or even leave by that deadline. Even before the proposals were formally made, Ireland dismissed the ideas that had been previously floated with Foreign Minister Simon Coveney quipping: "Non-Starter". "We've made a very good offer, we're going to make a very good offer, we're going to be tabling it formally very soon," Johnson, a Brexiter who helped lead the Out campaign in the referendum, told the BBC. "We do think there's a good way forward, we do think there's a good solution. I very much hope that our European, EU friends in Brussels, in Dublin, in Germany as well will want to take it forward," he added. Johnson said he wanted to get rid of the hotly contested element of the Brexit divorce agreement - the Irish border backstop - and that there was no point in leaving the EU if one stayed locked in an EU customs union. "What we want to do is to get rid of the backstop, that is the most important thing," Johnson said. "Getting rid of the backstop is a fantastic thing because what that does is it enables the UK genuinely to take back control of our regulatory framework, our tariffs, our customs and commercial policy and it allows us to go forward with a new and exciting relationship, not just with the EU but also with the rest of the world," he said. The backstop is an insurance policy to prevent the return of border infrastructure between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Johnson brushed away criticism of leaked plans to manage the Irish border after Brexit, saying comments from Brussels and Dublin were not aimed at Britain's final proposals. "As far as I can make out from what I've seen from the response from Brussels and I think Dublin, they're not talking about the proposals that we're actually going to be taking, they're talking about some stuff that went in previously," Johnson told the BBC.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Johnson to submit Brexit grand bargain but Ireland sceptical

Allegations that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-boris-johnson-vows-to-stay-put-to-hit-october-31-brexit-deadline-252702">British Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a> groped two women 20 years ago overshadowed the Conservative Party's conference on Monday. A Johnson spokesman denied the claim.

Charlotte Edwardes, a columnist, wrote in The Sunday Times that Johnson had groped her at a lunch in 1999 when he was the editor of The Spectator magazine.

"Under the table, I feel Johnson’s hand on my thigh. He gives it a squeeze," Edwardes wrote. "His hand is high up my leg and he has enough inner flesh beneath his fingers to make me sit suddenly upright", he added.

Edwardes said that after the meal, she confided in another woman who had sat on the other side of Johnson. The other woman said Johnson had also groped her, Edwardes said.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-commissions-juncker-says-britain-will-be-responsible-if-no-brexit-deal-252324">Prime Minister's</a> spokesman told reporters, "This allegation is untrue."

Finance minister Sajid Javid repeatedly refused to address the allegations when questioned on Monday but said the Prime Minister had said they were untrue.

Allegations that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson groped two women 20 years ago overshadowed the Conservative Party's conference on Monday. A Johnson spokesman denied the claim.

Allegations that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson groped two women 20 years ago overshadowed the Conservative Party's conference on Monday. A Johnson spokesman denied the claim. Charlotte Edwardes, a columnist, wrote in The Sunday Times that Johnson had groped her at a lunch in 1999 when he was the editor of The Spectator magazine. "Under the table, I feel Johnson’s hand on my thigh. He gives it a squeeze," Edwardes wrote. "His hand is high up my leg and he has enough inner flesh beneath his fingers to make me sit suddenly upright", he added. Edwardes said that after the meal, she confided in another woman who had sat on the other side of Johnson. The other woman said Johnson had also groped her, Edwardes said. The Prime Minister's spokesman told reporters, "This allegation is untrue." Finance minister Sajid Javid repeatedly refused to address the allegations when questioned on Monday but said the Prime Minister had said they were untrue.

Groping claims against United Kingdom Prime Minister Johnson overshadow Conservative conference

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday he would not resign to avoid having to delay Brexit beyond the end of October. Watch this video to know more.

UK PM Johnson says he will not resign to avoid asking for Brexit delay

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