One experienced official, a self-described lifelong sceptic, said he was prepared to be proven wrong that Thursday’s European Council will not reach a Brexit compromise. Ahead of Franco-German cabinet consultations on Wednesday in Berlin, Germany has backed council president Donald Tusk’s warning that last-minute negotiations should be avoided. But apart from the start-time of 3pm, he added, Berlin so far is in the dark about what is to be discussed. If he says on Wednesday that a short delay will yield a result, Berlin will not stand in the way. If more technical talks are required, however, Germany opposes this without a formal request for an extension from London.

Source: The Irish Times October 15, 2019 13:31 UTC