Hope for Brexit breakthrough as EU chief praises Theresa May for Florence speech and ‘clarity’

HOPES of a Brexit breakthrough grew last night as the EU’s negotiating chief welcomed Theresa May’s Florence speech as a possible “moment of clarity”.

Michel Barnier issued the positive edict while beginning the fourth round of talks with David Davis, as Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also said a deal to begin trade talks was now possible next month after meeting the PM in No10.

However Mr Barnier insisted more detail was needed and warned Britain would have to obey EU judges during any transition period – if the EU even granted one.

He said the two year window suggested by Theresa May was in the gift of the EU and debts would have to be settled before it could even be discussed.

Arriving in Brussels Mr Davis insisted that Britain was putting forward “concrete proposals” and there are now “no excuses for standing in the way of progress” to future trade talks.

Kick-starting the latest round of face to face negotiations, the Brexit Secretary called for “pragmatism” on both sides to break the deadlock.

Welcoming the “constructive spirit” of Mrs May’s speech, Mr Barnier said he was “keen and eager” to build on Friday’s set piece delivered in Italy.

He told reporters: “This moment should be a moment of clarity”.

But he warned: “What’s important now is for the government of the UK to translate the speech into a clear negotiating position”.

He added: “This is essential and would enable us to advance this week, I hope, and make real progress over the coming months.” But Mr Davis insisted that “we expect this to be a busy week” of “crunching through the technical detail.” And hinting at a behind the scenes details blitz, he said Britain was “absolutely committed” to providing further information on the PM’s big speech.

In another boost for Mrs May, Ireland’s leader said a deal to begin trade talks was now possible next month.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar came to Downing Street yesterday for Brexit discussions with Mrs May after her Florence speech.

How to keep open the Irish border and preserve the peace process is a key sticking point and the toughest of the three major demands from the EU before any trade deal can be discussed.

After meeting the PM in No10, Mr Varadkar said: “I don’t think, at this stage, it would be possible to say that sufficient progress has yet been made, but it may well be possible by the end of October when we meet in Brussels”.

Echoing Mr Barnier’s calls, he also urged the British government to be “more specific” about the details of Mrs May’s ‘grand bargain’ offer in Florence.

Boris Johnson was also given a warm reception in Prague yesterday.

The Foreign Secretary was dispatched on a three nation tour of Eastern Europe to sell the PM’s offer of a post-Brexit security treaty with the EU to counter Russian aggression.

He held talks with ministers in the Czech Republic and Romania yesterday and will fly on to Slovakia today.

Czech foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek said Mrs May’s security package “pleased me”, as deepening defence cooperation is “imperative”.

He also tweeted: “We’re interested in maintaining the unlimited movement of goods between CZ and GB. GB is our 4th biggest export partner”.

Boris added: “These visits provide me with an opportunity to re-iterate directly to our friends that Britain has always – and will always – stand with its allies in defence of our shared values, security, and our prosperity”.

Last night Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen also said “hopefully we will now see the negotiations move forward.”

He added: “We will have to find each other — and I think we will be able to find each other.” EU council boss Donald Tusk will today visit No10 for talks with Mrs May, but will warn the PM that this weekend’s informal EU summit in Tallinn, Estonia will not be a Brexit negotiation.