LONDON (AP) — There are still major gaps in the negotiations between Britain and the European Union to reach a Brexit agreement by next week, said Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkhar.Ireland cannot accept an agreement at any price, Varadkhar said, as London tries to renegotiate plans to avoid a tangible border between the EU member Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Both sides aim to close an agreement before an EU summit next week.
“Honestly, I think it’s going to be very difficult to get a deal for next week,” said the representative an interview Tuesday night with Irish TV RTE. “Basically what the UK has done is repudiate the agreement we negotiated in good faith for two years with the government of Prime Minister (Theresa) May, and they have practically put half of that on the table and say ‘This is a concession.’ And of course, it really isn’t.” The prime minister’s statements clashed with those of the office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said the EU’s intransigence had broken the negotiations. Johnson has threatened to leave the bloc without a negotiated agreement if it cannot be reached by October 31. Five cabinet ministers have threatened to resign if there is a “tough” Brexit, the Times of London released Wednesday.
