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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will hold Brexit talks with French President Emmanuel Macron today.<\/p>\nTaoiseach Leo Varadkar will hold Brexit talks with French President Emmanuel Macron today.<\/p>\n
The bilateral meeting in Paris comes ahead of talks between Mr Varadkar and German Chancellor Angel Merkel, who is due to visit Dublin on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Government said the meetings were a demonstration of strong and unwavering EU solidarity with Ireland over Brexit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Taoiseach and President Macron will take stock of the latest developments in Westminster, and discuss the scenarios which may arise, including the possibility of a request for an extension, or ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, in advance of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council on 10 April,\u201d the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
They are also expected to discuss the forthcoming EU summit in Sibiu, Romania, as well as the European Union\u2019s budget for the period after 2020.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Taoiseach said he was looking forward to meeting Mr Macron \u201cat this critical juncture\u201d in Brexit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will thank him for the ongoing solidarity from France, including the clear commitment that the Withdrawal Agreement must include an operational backstop to avoid a hard border,\u201d Mr Varadkar said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am keen to discuss the possible scenarios arising from this week, particularly how the European Council should respond to a request for another extension, should there be one, and ongoing efforts to secure ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I have indicated, it is now up to the UK to show how it plans to proceed and avoid a no-deal scenario.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are preparing for all outcomes, and have prepared intensively for a no deal. But no one should underestimate the difficulties that a no deal will present, for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n