‘No room for renegotiation’: EU slaps down UK hopes for a new Brexit deal as May attempts to woo European leaders
The EU will not renegotiate Theresa May’s Brexit deal after the Prime Minister was forced into a humiliating parliamentary climbdown yesterday, Jean-Claude Juncker said this morning.
The European Commission president said: “I remain convinced that the Brexit deal we have is the best – and only – deal possible. There is no room for renegotiation, but further clarifications are possible.”
I will meet @theresa_may this evening in Brussels. I remain convinced that the #Brexit deal we have is the best – and only – deal possible. There is no room for renegotiation, but further clarifications are possible.
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) December 11, 2018
The Prime Minister is heading to Europe today to meet EU leaders – including Juncker this evening – as she attempts to breathe life into her Brexit deal after she cancelled today’s vote on her withdrawal agreement, facing a heavy defeat.
She is holding talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Angela Merkel after pulling a planned House of Commons vote on the deal last night.
European Council President Donald Tusk also said he was calling a meeting of the council on Thursday to discuss the situation and also talk about preparations for a no-deal scenario.
I have decided to call #EUCO on #Brexit (Art. 50) on Thursday. We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop, but we are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification. As time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no-deal scenario.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) December 10, 2018
May was forced to back down on the planned vote on the deal yesterday as it was clear that parliamentary opposition, particularly in relation to the “backstop” agreement, meant she was set to for a significant defeat.
Sterling fell to a 20-month low as events unfolded yesterday but has recovered some of its losses today, climbing to 1.262 against the dollar after yesterday's low of $1.255.
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, May was clear that despite the opposition to the backstop, such a mechanism would have to be part of any deal with the EU.
She instead hoped MPs could be given a greater role in deciding when the backstop is triggered.
May said: “I spoke to a number of EU leaders over the weekend, and in advance of the European council I will go to see my counterparts in other member states and the leadership of the council and the commission.
“I will discuss with them the clear concerns that this House has expressed.
“We are also looking closely at new ways of empowering the House of Commons to ensure that any provision for a backstop has democratic legitimacy and to enable the House to place its own obligations on the government to ensure that the backstop cannot be in place indefinitely.”
It comes as Ireland plans to ramp up its no-deal planning with the recruitment of 1,000 new customs officials and veterinary inspectors for its ports and airports, according to foreign minister Simon Coveney.