The changing of the guard at the European Commission and the European Council offers new opportunities as well as challenges for the EU.

EU leaders have signalled a willingness to provide the UK with another Brexit extension to get a deal over the line as talks enter a critical phase.

Ireland “may have to live” with a no-deal Brexit and enforce the border to protect the single market “for a period”, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

An extension to avoid a crash-out Brexit has been raised by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after British prime minister Boris Johnson’s proposals fell significantly short of a deal.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the latest proposals from the UK do not fully meet the agreed objectives of the backstop.

Britain will be entirely to blame if checks close to the border are introduced after Brexit, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned.

Richard Boyd Barrett has accused the European Commission President of 'betrayal' over border checks in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to warn British prime minister Boris Johnson the time for a last-ditch Brexit deal is “shrinking rapidly” when the two rivals meet in New York amid growing hard border fears.

The European Commission president confirmed today there will be border checks between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland if there is a no-deal Brexit.

A number of UK-exposed Irish stocks faltered on the back of the EU warning that Britain is heading for a no-deal Brexit.

So that’s nearly Friday wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Boris Johnson has insisted progress is being made in Brexit talks with Brussels and the chances of an agreement have risen – but the European Union said a no-deal outcome remained a “distinct possibility”.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has cut short his summer holiday and returned to his home country of Luxembourg for an emergency gallbladder operation.

The new president of the European Commission has indicated that she intends to confront the climate crisis head-on. She must avoid the mistakes of her predecessor, who did not go far enough in expanding the scope for environmental policymaking, writes Johan Rockstrom

Ireland must do all it can to prevent being caught in Europe’s political slow lane as the leading contenders line up to run the EU and European Cental Bank, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is “flattered” to be linked to the role of the new president of the European Commission but that he plans to stay put in Ireland as Taoiseach.

The European Commission has been accused of hypocrisy and double standards in pursuit of a trade deal with the South American group of Mercosur countries — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Let us this week spare a weepy thought for Jean-Claude Juncker, who in November concludes his five-year term as president of the European Commission.

More than 200m of the 400m people entitled to vote in last week’s European elections did so. This marks a substantial

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has restated Ireland's support for Manfred Weber to replace Jean Claude Juncker as Europe's most senior politician.

Theresa May has this morning announced that she will step down as Conservative party leader on Friday, June 7.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has insisted both Britain and the EU must "stick to the commitments taken tonight" after the EU agreed to delay Brexit until October 31.

The European Commission’s president has warned Britain “patience runs out” in the clearest sign yet Brussels is prepared to cut its losses and accept a no-deal Brexit outcome in just 11 days’ time.

The imminent March 29 Brexit cliff edge will be pushed back until May 22 if MPs back Theresa May's deal next week - and to April 12 even if it is rejected.

On Monday night, British prime minister Theresa May travelled to Strasbourg for the latest last ditch Brexit deal talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.

The deal struck between EU President Jean Claude Juncker and Theresa May does not undermine the Withdrawal Agreement, Government sources said.

The second cabinet meeting of the day comes ahead of Brexit talks between the British Prime Minister and European Commission president later.

Any hope of a last-ditch deal to prevent a crash-out Brexit is vanishing after EU leaders warned British prime minister Theresa May they will offer her nothing in make-or-break talks today and tomorrow — telling Brexiteers they have “a special place in hell”.

Theresa May will meet the Taoiseach in Dublin later as part of her whistlestop European tour.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he believes there can be “decisive progress” on Brexit in the coming weeks — despite warning “there is still a fair amount of work to be done”.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

There appears to be a cease-fire in the trade war brewing between the U.S. and the European Union.

Europe is planning to redirect hundreds of millions of euro to Ireland in the case of a hard Brexit, EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has confirmed.

It was like the archbishop was coming to visit, writes Daniel McConnell.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker is to spend two days in Ireland this week as Brexit talks heat up.

The EU proposed yesterday to cut funding for the Common Agricultural Policy by 5%, but some in Brussels warned the new budget plan could cut farm income supports for 2021-27 by 8.5%, and rural development measures 17.5%.

Train passengers travelling across the border may face onboard passport checks under worst-case scenario hard Brexit plans being drawn up by Iarnród Éireann.

Train passengers travelling across the border may face onboard passport checks under worst-case scenario hard Brexit plans being drawn up by Iarnród Éireann.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied being involved in a “plot” to stop Britain’s departure from the EU, saying any decision to U-turn on Brexit can only be made by the British public.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has warned that phase two of the Brexit talks will be “very, very demanding”.

In cautiously steering a Brexit border agreement in Ireland’s favour, the young-gun Taoiseach has shown the maturity of a political heavyweight.

Intense negotiations were ongoing last night between the EU and Britain in an attempt to break the deadlock over Brexit, with hopes that a new deal will be agreed.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is refusing to budge on a crucial deal for a frictionless border and special status for the North after unionists slammed the brakes on the planned EU-UK Brexit agreement.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is refusing to budge on a crucial deal for a frictionless border and special status for the North after unionists slammed the brakes on the planned EU-UK Brexit agreement.

At breakfast, a deal was firmly on the Brexit table. But by lunch, the two-course meal had suddenly gone off.

It is up to the UK to decide whether there is a good Brexit deal — or even if the country decides to leave the European Union at all, Donald Tusk has told MEPs.

It is up to the UK to decide whether there is a good Brexit deal - or even if the country decides to leave the European Union at all, Donald Tusk has told British MEPs.

The European Commission president has denied leaking a disparaging account of a dinner to discuss Brexit with Theresa May.

UK ministers have confirmed in the House of Lords that an investigation is under way into claims that UK banks could be unwittingly linked to a corruption scandal in South Africa.

Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have said efforts to find an agreement in the Brexit talks should "accelerate" in the coming months.