World

EU Top Negotiator Barnier Gets Go-Ahead From Member-States to Start Intense Talks With UK - Reports

The UK government had been keen to open “tunnel” negotiations with the commission on the detail of a deal, and this is a sign progress is at last being made between Brussels and London on Britain's departure
Sputnik

The intensive talks are set to be held in the days before the summit on 17th October.

The Irish Times has reported when a journalist asked a European Commission official where the tunnel was, they replied it's "not a place, but a state of mind".

However, the tunnel is perhaps best understood as Brussels phraseology for discussions held among key negotiators in complete secrecy, with no press briefings or documents published, meaning offers and counter-offers aren't disclose – unless they're leaked of course. Even the EU's 27 member state ambassadors won't be informed of any progress.

​Whatever results will be a jointly-agreed proposal.

 

Discuss