European Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union Michel Barnier, expressed the European Union's readiness to make concessions on the Irish border backstop conflict in the Brexit file.

Barnier said in statements on Saturday that he was aware that Britain had doubts that the backstop could be a trap, stressing that it was not.

The European official stressed that Brussels is ready to provide more assurances and clarification to London on this matter, stressing that the backstop should be only temporary, and the European Union will not allow a time limit or a unilateral right to withdraw.

EU officials have previously insisted they will not negotiate any part of Britain's current withdrawal agreement, including the backstop, with only four weeks left for Britain to leave the EU on March 29.

The backstop, an arrangement designed to prevent the return of ‘hard’ border infrastructure between EU member Ireland and British-ruled Northern Ireland if there is no trade deal after Brexit that makes it unnecessary, has become the main point of contention in the proposed Brexit deal. (QNA)