Brexit deal ‘unlikely’ this week and talks will drag on, says Irish foreign minister

A Brexit deal is “unlikely this week” and trade talks are “likely to move into next week”, according to Ireland’s foreign minister.

Simon Coveney said he was hopeful he would be “proven wrong” but played down the prospects of a breakthrough in the next few days.

He also warned of “real problems” if a deal was not struck by some time next week.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is in London this week to continue negotiations on a future UK-EU relationship with his UK counterpart Lord Frost.

On Monday, Mr Barnier warned there were still three areas in which the two sides were yet to reach an agreement: Issues of governance; the maintenance of shared standards; and fishing.

With 50 days until the end of the Brexit transition period, on 31 December, Mr Coveney said the agreement of a trade deal would be “very difficult” but “doable”.

“No deal is in nobody’s interests,” he said at an online event organised by the European Movement Ireland.

It was reported on Wednesday that Brussels now sees next week’s video conference summit of EU leaders as the final deadline for a draft Brexit deal.