DUBLIN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and European Union (EU) chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier held a meeting on Brexit in Dublin on Monday, according to a press release from the Irish government.
The meeting came just days before Britain will leave the EU on Jan. 31, 2020.
During the meeting, Varadkar and Barnier discussed the next phase of Brexit negotiations, dealing with the future relationship between the EU and Britain, including trade, said the press release.
They also discussed implementing the Irish Protocol as part of the Withdrawal Agreement, which sets out to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, guarantee citizens' rights, and protect the Good Friday Agreement, it said, adding that in the meeting Varadkar emphasized that "the upcoming negotiations should ensure no trade quotas, no tariffs, minimum bureaucracy and a level playing field between Ireland, the EU and the UK."
Local media RTE reported that Barnier would travel to Britain's Northern Ireland on Monday afternoon following his meeting with Irish prime minister in Dublin.
