Michel Barnier hints Theresa May’s new Brexit plan WILL work saying he’s ‘ready to change EU stance’
The EU chief negotiator refused to criticise the Prime Minister's latest plans for Brexit
MICHEL Barnier has opened the EU's door to Chequers compromises by repeatedly refusing to criticise Theresa May's latest Brexit plans.
The bloc’s chief negotiator pointedly would not be drawn on the PM's proposals to keep the UK in the single market for goods but not services.
During a conciliatory speech at the Irish embassy in Brussels, the Frenchman also called on both sides to "de-dramatise" the border issue.
And he hinted that the EU is waiting to kickstart the negotiations on renewed terms if Mrs May softens her red lines.
Mr Barnier did not mention cherry-picking once during a noticeably softer address after Member States warned him not to simply kill off the UK's proposals.
He said: "I'm ready to adapt our offer should the UK’s red lines change. We need to quickly have realistic and workable solutions and obviously we look forward to the UK’s white paper.
"Ideally the UK’s proposals will facilitate both the UK’s internal political debate and negotiation with us. My objective has always been to find an agreement with the UK, not against the UK."
Mr Barnier was repeatedly asked what he thought about the UK's latest proposals on the Single Market and customs, but would only reply: “I cannot go into details of negotiations. It wouldn’t be helpful.”
But he suggested that whilst technological solutions like Max Fac can be "useful" in terms of solving the border conundrum they are "not enough" on their own.
The Frenchman also looked to reassure Unionists by insisting that the EU does not want to create a new border in the Irish Sea despite the prospect of new checks at ports and airports.
Breakfast means breakfast? Barnier admits he prefers a Full English to croissants
MICHEL Barnier has admitted that he prefers to chow down a traditional Full English for breakfast rather than French croissants.
The EU's chief negotiator admitted that he eschews his homeland's celebrated pastries in favour of bacon, sausage and egg.
Mr Barnier was spotted buying croissants from a local cafe in Brussels ahead of a breakfast meeting with David Davis last month.
But when quizzed about the incident by reporters, he made the shock admission that he is more of a fan of a Full Monty.
He said: "I don't really eat croissants. I prefer an English breakfast."
It is a preference he shares with the Brexit secretary, who admitted after the pair's meeting that he is no admirer of French pastries either.
He mocked: "Whenever there's a continental breakfast, always best to eat a proper one first."
Mr Barnier is known to be health conscious and is often spotted buying salads for lunch from the Commission's canteen.
He said: "We are not asking for any new borders between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. All or parts of the backstop can be replaced by an agreement on the future EU-UK relationship.
"We must all de-dramatise this backstop. We will obviously need to clarify how and where these controls will be done but ultimately these are only technical controls on goods, no more, no less."
MOST READ IN POLITICS
However, Mr Barnier also threw down the gauntlet to DUP leader Arlene Foster by suggesting the EU's backstop is popular amongst Northern Irish.
He said: "Our approach responding to the issue posed by Brexit is well understood in Northern Ireland.
"It doesn’t disrupt the daily lives of people, it avoids a hard border and it respects the integrity of the Single Market."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours