Brexit talks continue in Brussels ahead of crunch summit

UK and EU negotiating teams will meet later as efforts to reach a deal before a crunch summit this week continue.

After talks in Brussels this weekend, EU ambassadors were told the UK would make concessions to its post-Brexit plan for the Northern Irish border.

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But the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said a “a big gap” remained over customs arrangements.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said she believed a deal could be reached by the 31 October deadline.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “[In] the last few days, we’ve seen a real shift in approach from the EU – and in Ireland in particular – for which we’re extremely grateful and appreciative.

“I think with the negotiations ongoing… I’m an optimist, I do believe that we can get a deal by 31 October.”

On Sunday, Boris Johnson told his cabinet that while he could see a “pathway” to a deal, there was “still a significant amount of work” needed to get there.

The European Commission echoed the prime minister, saying: “A lot of work remains to be done.”