Theresa may has been unable to change the terms Brexit
The meeting the Prime Minister of Britain with representatives of the European Union will continue.
Theresa may again failed to win concessions from the European Union (EU). The Prime Minister on Thursday went to talks in Brussels to negotiate a new agreement on the country’s withdrawal from the EU, which would have approved the British Parliament.
At the end of the hour and a half meeting Mei and head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker agreed to continue the dialogue on Brexit.
The negotiations were “tough but constructive”, according to the final joint statement. Juncker confirmed that the terms of the agreement, approved by all members of the EU on 25 November, will not be reviewed.
However, he expressed his willingness to amend the political Declaration on the future relationship of the parties, unenforceable. However, any changes must be approved by the European Parliament and all 27 EU members.
In Brussels, Mei has also held consultations with President of the European Council Donald Tusk and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. Tajani warned that the EU and UK are on the verge of “a humanitarian and economic catastrophe”. “We are very concerned about. That is the reality Brexit without an agreement,” he was quoted by the Associated Press.
Before the arrival of Mei Tusk discussed the scenarios with Brexit the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar. “Interesting, it looks like a special place in hell for those who stood for Brexit, even outlining a plan for its safe implementation,” wrote Tusk after the meeting in his Twitter. “I spoke with President Tusk yesterday about his words, which didn’t help at all [negotiations], and caused General disappointment in the UK,” said may in an interview with BBC following the meeting on 7 February.
One of the main differences between London and Brussels — the question of the border between Northern Ireland (part of UK) and the Irish Republic. The EU intends to prevent the emergence of a “hard” border, and spoilers version may fear that its proposed mechanism would limit the sovereignty of great Britain.
If this item was excluded from the agreement, may could count on the broad support of the most intransigent eurosceptic, claimed earlier the former foreign Minister, Boris Johnson. But, according to the head of the European Parliament, in the course of negotiations may have recognized that the point about transparent mode, the border should remain in the agreement despite the fact that the British Parliament during the previous vote on 30 January adopted an amendment requiring the government to delete this provision from the draft agreement. According to may, she made it clear to the EU that the mechanism of “backstop” needs to be amended.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier on Thursday, also stressed that the agreement would not be open to revision, but the stalemate can be overcome without it. According to her, all interested in the fact that Brexit was ordered, therefore, “our common duty is to ensure the agreement for the UK should be possible to clearly say what she wants.” Merkel may be pretending that they are ready to make concessions, but actually only agree minor changes to previous agreements, says the Financial Times. “She wants to look as if making every effort to avoid [a hard Brexit], — said the publication of high-ranking European diplomat. But if it happens so be it”.
May and Juncker agreed to spend at least another meeting before the end of the month.
Discussion in the British Parliament will resume on February 14, another vote for the agreement should take place in the end of the month, according to Reuters. However, “once promised another meeting [may and Juncker] until the end of February, then the government will try to postpone the final vote in Parliament in March,” — wrote in his Twitter political editor of Sky News Faisal Islam.
Meanwhile, fewer Britons believe that Mei will be able to negotiate with the EU on a bargain, a recent poll by Ipsos MORI, held 1-5 February. Only 21% of respondents believe that Mei will achieve a good deal with the EU, 77% disagree — this is 8 percentage points more than in December.
The UK should withdraw from the EU on 29 March 2019 Wednesday newspaper the Telegraph reported that the British government secretly discussed the possibility to move Brexit eight weeks to 24 may. According to the newspaper, the Cabinet of Ministers expects to negotiate with the EU a two-month “grace period” provided support to the British Parliament of the agreement on Brexit. In this case, the UK will retain the status of an EU member until 24 may in the current circumstances. This delay is necessary to clarify British law after the country’s withdrawal from the EU. Previously may have excluded the possibility of transfer of Brexit. In addition, 30 January the house of Commons also refused to postpone the terms Brexit and also approved an amendment that excludes Brexit without an agreement.