During a turbulent 50 days in office, Mr Johnson has consistently ramped up pressure on Brussels with his October 31 Brexit exit date pledge. Ahead of the looming looming deadline, Brussels has showed further signs of finally giving in into Mr Johnson’s demands. Mr Barnier, following talks with MEPs in Brussels, said the EU is “ready to examine” proposals to break the Brexit impasse.
The EU chief negotiator said: “Parliament has a very important role, and it will be the case until the end of this process.
“Regarding the talks we are still ready to examine objectively any concrete and legally operational proposal from the UK.”
With just 49 days until the UK is scheduled to leave the bloc, the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, has also reiterated the EU’s willingness to strike a deal.
Mr Sassoli said: “We’re not ruling anything out.
“If solutions are proposed they will be debated, all of them, provided they respect the guiding principles of the EU.
“But up to now I can say the UK hasn’t proposed any alternatives, anything that’s been legally credible and workable.”
The EU parliament president has also said he would be willing to concede ground on the controversial Irish backstop.
The EU chief said the bloc is willing to revert to a Northern Ireland only backstop.
Under the terms of Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, the backstop – aimed at preventing a hard borden on the Island of Ireland – currently ties the whole of the UK into the single market and customs union.
Mr Sassoli said: “We are willing to go back to the original EU proposal… which is that a backstop will only be provided for Northern Ireland.”
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The Prime Minister said: “I’m very hopeful that we will get a deal, as I say, at that crucial summit.
“We’re working very hard – I’ve been around the European capitals talking to our friends.”
He added: “I think we can see the rough area of a landing space, of how you can do it – it will be tough, it will be hard, but I think we can get there.”
