Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border

The UK and EU have reached agreement on how rules in the Brexit divorce deal relating to Northern Ireland's borders will work in practice.

 This is a Brexit breakthrough.

 The two sides have reached an "agreement in principle" on issues including border control posts and the supply of medicines.

Yesterday, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that he was inclined to give up the Irish border security mechanism (backstop) if all targets were met, BTA reported.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today that Britain would leave the European Union at any cost on October 31, Reuters and TASS reported, quoted by BTA.
    "The Prime Minister has made it clear that the UK will in any case leave the EU on October 31st," Johnson's office said.

European Union negotiators dismiss as "fantasy" some main British demands for Brexit, including on the sensitive issue of the Northern Ireland border, a senior EU official said on May 24.

The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on April 20 some 25 percent of work remained to be done on a pact covering U.K. withdrawal from the EU, including crucial issues such as management of the Ireland/Northern Ireland border.

Britain must come up with a solution for the Irish border after Brexit or there will be no divorce deal or transition period, EU President Donald Tusk warned on April 18.

Michel Barnier said he and Mr Davis have made a "decisive step" towards agreeing a joint legal text on the UK's EU withdrawal.

The Brussels negotiator also confirmed he would take the agreement to European Council of EU leaders for approval at Thursday's summit.

Theresa May believes the Canada-US customs regime can provide a blueprint for solving the Irish border problem when Britain leaves the EU, The Telegraph writes.

Canada and the US are not part of a customs union but have a trade deal that allows tens of thousands of border crossings each day using a trusted trader scheme to avoid delays.

British Prime Minister Theresa May today met with European Council President Donald Tusk in London - the day before she gave a big speech on her views on future relations with the EU, the BNR reported.

Michel Barnier will fly into London on Monday where he will head to Downing Street to meet the UK's Brexit negotiator David Davis for a working lunch before talks enter the second phase of negotiations, Daily Express reported.