Donald Tusk calls for special Brexit summit in November
EU member states could gather in mid-November to finalise a Brexit deal with the UK.
European Council president Donald Tusk will propose an additional summit then to ensure an agreement is reached and that the UK and EU avoid a no deal scenario, saying today that there is “less and less time” to conclude negotiations.
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“Every day that is left, we must use for talks. I would like to finalise them still this autumn,” he said ahead of the Salzburg summit today.
“This is why, at tomorrow's meeting of the 27, I will propose calling an additional summit around mid-November.”
He claimed such a deal could be based upon aspects of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Chequers plan, but said the proposal still required work.
“The Brexit negotiations are entering their decisive phase,” he said. “Various scenarios are still possible today, but I would like to stress that some of Prime Minister May's proposals from Chequers indicate a positive evolution in the UK's approach as well as a will to minimise the negative effects of Brexit.
“By this I mean, among other things, the readiness to cooperate closely in the area of security and foreign policy.
“On other issues, such as the Irish question, or the framework for economic cooperation, the UK's proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated.”
It comes as May canvasses EU member states for support for her Chequers plan, as she seeks more flexibility in the bloc’s approach to the negotiations.
Tusk added: “Today there is perhaps more hope, but there is surely less and less time.”
Read more: David Davis: Brexit talks to 'reset' in November
It comes after former Brexit secretary David Davis today said the EU would seek to “reset” the Brexit deal some time in November.
He suggested the EU and UK would seek a Canada-style free trade agreement, with each party’s proposals proving unacceptable to the other.
“We’ll get to a point where [Prime Minister Theresa May] will not be able to accept what they offer they’ll not be able to accept what she offers and they’ll have to have some sort of reset,” he said.