Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is expected to make the case for a long extension of the Brexit negotiating period when he meets French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday and German chancellor Angela Merkel in Dublin on Thursday. Mr Varadkar will meet Mr Macron in the Elysee Palace, and is expected to argue for a long extension of the Article 50 negotiating period if one is needed. It was acknowledged the meetings in the coming days will, among other issues, see Mr Varadkar discuss how to protect the EU single market and keep the Border open in a no-deal Brexit scenario. Mr Varadkar last week said the EU should be open to a long extension “should the United Kingdom decide to fundamentally reconsider its approach to Brexit and put back on the table options previously ruled out”. Brexit dayEU leaders have set Friday week as Brexit day if the UK does not ratify the Withdrawal Agreement.

Source: The Irish Times April 02, 2019 00:00 UTC