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EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay have welcomed a “constructive meeting” in Brussels.
Mr Barnier compared the UK’s departure from the European Union to climbing a mountain, stressing the need for “determination and patience”, after the meeting on Friday.
The tepid positivity came after European Council president Donald Tusk noted “promising signals” from Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after his face-to-face discussions with Boris Johnson.
Both prime ministers said they could “see a pathway” to a possible agreement before the negotiators were dispatched for talks.
On his way out, Mr Barnier told reporters: “We had a constructive meeting with Steve Barclay and the British team and now I’m going to debrief the 27 ambassadors and the Brexit steering group of the (European) parliament.
“I’ve already said that Brexit is like climbing a mountain: we need vigilance, determination and patience.”
Mr Barclay also welcomed the “constructive meeting”.
A Government spokesman said: “Steve Barclay had a constructive meeting with Michel Barnier this morning.
“Michel Barnier will brief ambassadors from the EU27 this afternoon.”
The talks came as EU President Donald Tusk revealed he had threatened the PM with publicly announcing on Friday that he had exhausted all opportunities of securing a deal by the crucial EU summit on October 17 and 18.
But he ruled out making that declaration, offering to hold out for the “slightest chance” of success, after speaking with the Taoiseach.
The PM had promised the EU to present a solution that would “satisfy the hardcore Brexiteers” while upholding the EU’s demands to have no hard border on the island of Ireland, protect the Good Friday Agreement and ensure the integrity of the single market, Mr Tusk said.
“Unfortunately we are still in a situation in which the UK has not come forward with a workable, realistic proposal,” he continued.
“A week ago I told Prime Minister Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today I would announce publicly that there are no more chances because of objective reasons for a deal during the coming European council.
“However, yesterday when the Irish Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister met they both saw for the first time a pathway to a deal.
“I have received promising signals from the Taoiseach that a deal is still possible.
“Of course there is no guarantee of success and the time is practically up but even the slightest chance must be used.”
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