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Irish Border Spat Complicates Brexit Transition Talks

  • Disagreement on Irish issue remains wide, diplomats say
  • Germany, France said to view Brexit transition differently
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Avoiding a hard border will be "very difficult" given the U.K.’s stance, Irish Deputy PM Simon Coveney says.Source: Bloomberg
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The U.K. has significant ground to make up on the Irish border issue before next week’s summit where it aims to clinch a deal on a Brexit transition period, European diplomats said.

While both sides are keen have a deal signed off by EU leaders at the meeting, the gap on the Irish question remains wide, according to three diplomats, who asked not to be identified as talks are ongoing. If the EU isn’t satisfied with British proposals for avoiding a hard border, they might attach more conditions to a transition agreement, one of the officials said.