EU's Barnier on Brexit says we are not still 100 pct

"Without an operational backstop there will not be an accord and there will not be a transition period. That is certain."

The European Union will not conclude an exit agreement with Britain and or give London a transition period after Brexit without a deal that prevents a "hard" border in Ireland, the bloc's main negotiator said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Slovakia's Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he would seek to agree the whole 100 per cent of a draft Brexit accord with London.

"We are still not at the 100 per cent," Barnier said. "What is missing is a solution for the issue of Ireland."

"Without an operational backstop there will not be an accord and there will not be a transition period. That is certain."