FILE PHOTO: Britain's Attorney General Geoffrey Cox outside of Downing Street in London, Britain, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville -/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is discussing text with the European Union as part of its efforts to win concessions from the bloc on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, top government lawyer Geoffrey Cox said on Thursday.

Talks between Cox and EU negotiators earlier this week on changes to the so-called Irish backstop, an insurance policy to avoid the return of border controls on the island of Ireland, ended with no agreement.

“We are discussing detailed, coherent, careful proposals, we are discussing text with the European Union,” Attorney General Cox told parliament. “I am surprised to hear the comments that have emerged over the last 48 hours the proposals are not clear, they are as clear as day and we are continuing to discuss them.”