Brexit: Michel Barnier says deal ‘90% done’
EU chief negotiator insists securing an agreement is ‘possible’ - but warns that Irish border may still prove fatal stumbling block

The European Union’s chief negotiator has announced that a Brexit deal with the United Kingdom is “90%” agreed but warned that negotiations might still be scuppered by the ongoing debate over the Irish border.
Speaking to radio channel France Inter on Friday morning, Michel Barnier said he was “still not sure” that an agreement will be reached before Britain leaves the European Union, adding that the challenge was “possible but difficult”.
Referring to the Irish border question, he said: “From the beginning of the mandate that was given to me, we always said that it was an issue that needed to be resolved.” Barnier emphasised the “unanimity on the part of the EU” that there should be no closed border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
On Thursday British Prime Minister Theresa May and other EU leaders voiced renewed confidence that they could secure a Brexit deal, “yet the two sides remain at odds over how to deal with their only land border”, reports Reuters.
And while Barnier insists most of the other elements of Brexit have been agreed, some commentators fear a deal may never be sealed.
“Bless him, trying to pour oil on May’s troubled waters,” says ForexLive’s Giles Coghlan. “The problem is that the remaining 10% (the N.Irish border issue etc), is an absolute pain to solve. It’s like a political Rubix cube that may not be solvable.”
May has signalled that she would consider extending the Brexit transition period “for a matter of months” after Britain leaves the EU in March, to iron out remaining issues. However,Germany’s Europe minister, Michael Roth, has “poured cold water on the prime minister’s plan”, warning that “an extension alone does not solve the problems”, The Daily Mirror reports.
“There is no reasonable solution yet over a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland,” Roth said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Pentagon's missing missiles
Feature The U.S. military is low on weapons. Can it restock before a major conflict breaks out?
-
Rescissions: Trump's push to control federal spending
Feature The GOP passed a bill to reduce funding for PBS, NPR and other public media stations
-
The knives come out for Pam Bondi
IN THE SPOTLIGHT She wasn't Trump's first pick to lead the Justice Department. After months of scandals and setbacks, is the attorney general's MAGA shelf life winding down?
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?
Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Viktor Orban: is time up for Europe's longest-serving premier?
Today's Big Question Hungarian PM's power is under threat 'but not in the way – or from the people – one might expect'
-
Entente cordiale: will state visit help UK-French relations get over Brexit?
Today's Big Question The King, a keen Francophile who has a warm relationship with Emmanuel Macron, will play a key role in state visit
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Brexit 'reset' deal: how will it work?
In Depth Keir Stamer says the deal is a 'win-win', but he faces claims that he has 'surrendered' to Brussels on fishing rights
-
Are we entering the post-Brexit era?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer's 'big bet' with his EU reset deal is that 'nobody really cares' about Brexit any more
-
Is Starmer's plan to send migrants overseas Rwanda 2.0?
Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans