Tusk says 'solid backstop' plan needed in Brexit talks

Donald Tusk said a 'solid backstop' plan was needed soon

As the British Government finalises its white paper on Brexit, the European Council President and President of the European Commission have stressed the importance of the Ireland in those conclusions.

Speaking in the European Parliament this afternoon, Donald Tusk said there is a lot of work yet to do with less time and the sooner there's a UK proposal on the Irish border, the better.

President Tusk also said a "solid backstop" was required and had to be accepted by the European Union's "Irish friends".

He said clarity and realism were required in the negotiations.

Commission President Jean Claude Junker said the council had made clear that the Irish issue would not be isolated.

Both men were speaking in the parliament on conclusions of last week's EU summit.