Luxembourg: 'Time to turn good intentions into legal text' - EU Brexit chief

M/S British Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay leaves official car, Luxembourg City
Journalists asks question: "Mr Barnier has just spoken about discussions becoming more and more difficult. Are there any grounds for optimism?" *UPSOUND*
SOT, Stephen Barclay, British Brexit Secretary: "Well, I'm looking forward to the General Affairs Council this morning, an opportunity to discuss these issues with my EU counterparts. The talks are ongoing, we need to give them space to proceed, but detailed conversations are underway and a deal is still very possible."
Journalist: "The DUP were in Downing Street last night, are they onboard?"
M/S EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier leaving car *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Michel Barnier, EU's Chief Brexit Negotiator: "I will debrief the EU 27 ministers as usual. And just to tell them where we are, where we stand today. Our team are working hard. And the work just starts now, today. This work has been intense over the weekend and yesterday. Because even if the agreement will be difficult, more and more difficult to be frank, it is still possible this week. Reaching an agreement is still possible. Obviously any agreement must work for everyone. The whole of the United Kingdom and the whole of the European Union. Let me add also that it is high time to turn good intentions into a legal text. Thank you very much."
M/S Barnier enters EU building
SCRIPT
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said a Brexit deal is still possible this week but warned "it will be difficult", while speaking to the press in Luxembourg as he was was attending the EU's General Affairs council on Tuesday.
Barnier stressed that a withdrawal agreement should work for all the parties involved. "It is high time to turn good intentions into a legal text", he added.
According to reports, the EU negotiator emphasised the hurdles still existing between the EU and the UK, as no agreement on the Irish border has yet been found.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to table a document within Tuesday to allow enough time for a EU approval at Thursday and Friday's European Council summit.
If no progress is made on Tuesday, more negotiations will likely take place later in October, as the October 31 Brexit deadline looms.