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Border issue most likely to scupper Brexit deal, warns UK think-tank
Charles Grant, of the Centre for European Reform, which Michel Barnier addressed earlier this week, said he believes a deal can be done - if Ireland agrees to language that signals there would be no regulatory divergence between the North and the Republic. France and Germany are among the countries keen to move on to the next phase of the talks dealing with the future relationship, Mr Grant said.
If Ireland is the only obstacle, the Government will be "politely" encouraged to accept some form of compromise, he added, referring to recent meetings he has had in Brussels with both the UK and EU sides. "Then the really difficult decisions on the Border and Ireland get postponed for phase two," Mr Grant told the Irish Independent.
..."On money, everybody in Brussels can see how a deal can be done," Mr Grant added. "There may be problems, but the British have to cough up and the EU has to be seen to give them something in return, in terms of some political agreement on transition arrangements and talks on the future trade arrangements. "It is not beyond the wit of man to get the two sides to come together on the money. The officials on both sides think they know how to do it. "Ireland is much more difficult. If the Irish take a maximalist view on what they want to get the British to sign up to, there won't be a deal at all. "If the Irish are prepared to accept vague assurances that the British agree that the North will have some regulatory convergence with the south, which I think the British can sign up to, then we can declare a deal in December."