Boris Johnson is to meet with the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in their first meeting since he became prime minister for a “working lunch.”
They will meet on Monday and Johnson will also meet with Luxembourg’s prime minister Xavier Bettel.
An EU Commission spokeswoman said, “As president Juncker has said from the beginning, he was looking forward to working constructively with prime minister Johnson and it’s just that they haven’t managed to meet yet.
“The reason the lunch is taking place in Luxembourg is that the president has to get to Strasbourg for plenary week in the European Parliament.
“Mr Johnson agreed to come to Luxembourg to facilitate this happening.”
On Thursday the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier said that Brussels are waiting for “concrete, legally operational proposals” from the British government.
During a meeting at the EU Parliament, Barnier told leaders, “We will see in the coming weeks if the British are able to make concrete proposals in writing that are legally operational.
“While we have previously reached an agreement, as far as we can speak today, we have no reason to be optimistic.
“I cannot tell you objectively whether contacts with the government of Mr Johnson will be able to reach an agreement by mid-October.”
After the talks with Johnson, Juncker will address the European Parliament on Wednesday.
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