EU agrees 'best possible' Brexit deal, urges Britons to back May

By Gabriela Baczynska and Elizabeth Piper

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives with Britain's Permanent Representative to the EU Tim Barrow at an extraordinary EU leaders summit to finalise and formalise the Brexit agreement in Brussels, Belgium November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/Pool

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders finally sealed a Brexit deal on Sunday, saying the package agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May was the best Britain will get in a warning to the British parliament not to reject it.

 

"Those who think that, by rejecting the deal, they would get a better deal, will be disappointed," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters after the 27 other EU leaders formally endorsed a treaty setting terms for British withdrawal in March and an outline of a future EU-UK trade pact.

 

Asked whether there was any chance Brussels would reopen the pact if an alliance of pro- and anti-Brexit forces votes it down in the British parliament, Juncker said "this is the best deal possible", although summit chair Donald Tusk sounded more guarded, saying he did not want to consider hypotheticals.

 

May used a post-summit news conference to make a sales pitch for her plan, telling television viewers at home that it was the "only possible deal", offering control of UK borders and budgets while maintaining close alignment with EU regulations that was good for business and the security of Britain and Europe.

 

"In any negotiation, you do not get everything you want. I think the British people understand that," said May, who arrived after the endorsement to voice hopes for continued close ties.

 

Parliament's vote could open the door to a "brighter future" or condemn the country to more division, she said. "I will make the case for this deal with all my heart," she added, declining to answer whether she would resign if parliament rejects it.

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the bloc's veteran guiding force, echoed that unwillingness to speculate on what she called a "historic day" that was both "tragic and sad".

 

"There is no Plan B," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "If anyone thinks in the United Kingdom that by voting No something better would come out of it, they are wrong."

 

The only Plan B was preparing a possible no-deal scenario in which Britain crashes out on March 29 into legal limbo, roiling Europe's economy, a senior EU official said.

 

In May's exchanges at the summit, there was no discussion of what may happen if parliament rejects the deal in a vote likely to take place just before the next EU summit on Dec. 13-14.

 

NO CHAMPAGNE

Amid praise for Michel Barnier's team of negotiators for bringing home a deal after 18 months of gruelling talks, Juncker said it was "no time for champagne", as one of Europe's great powers quits after a 2016 referendum. The harder work of forging new relations now lies ahead, he added.

 

The EU leaders took barely half an hour to rubber-stamp the 585-page withdrawal treaty, aimed at an orderly exit in March to be followed by two to three years of a status-quo transition period. The outline of a future trading and security partnership was just 26 pages long. May's critics say it leaves Britain tied to EU regulations that it will no longer have a say in setting.

 

Her foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, said that the Brexit deal was a "staging post" towards Britain getting everything it wanted from leaving the EU, but that the arithmetic for getting the deal approved was "challenging".

 

European Council President Tusk said the bloc was determined to have as close as possible a partnership with Britain, which has long been sceptical about EU integration: "We will remain friends until the end of days. And one day longer," he said.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron said Britain's Brexit vote showed Europe needed reform. He stressed that Paris would hold Britain to tight EU regulations, in return for giving it easy trade access. He also foreshadowed coming, fraught, negotiations by demanding access to British fishing grounds after Brexit.

 

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite spoke of several scenarios if parliament blocks the package: that Britons would hold a second referendum; hold a new election to replace May or return to Brussels to try and renegotiate the package.

 

IRISH QUESTION

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which props up May's minority government, said it would try to block the deal because it binds London to many EU rules and the DUP fears it may weaken the province's ties to Britain -- a result of efforts to avoid a risk of a "hard border" with EU member Ireland.

 

Wrangling over how to keep open troubled Northern Ireland's land border with the EU dogged much of the Brexit talks and DUP leader Arlene Foster said she would "review" the agreement to back May's Conservative government if the Brexit divorce is passed in parliament.

 

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn repeated that his Labour party, which says it could get a better deal, will vote against.

 

Britain's 300-year-old naval base in Gibraltar on Spain's southern coast, had also threatened to derail plans. But Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was satisfied with guarantees of a say in the future of "The Rock", saying on Sunday that Spain wanted to claim a share of sovereignty.

 

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Foo Yun Chee, Philip Blenkinsop, Alastair Macdonald, Peter Maushagen, Jean-Baptiste Vey, Robin Emmott and Belen Carreno in Brussels; writing by Alastair Macdonald,; Editing by Alexander Smith)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-26

"...There is no Plan B," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "If anyone thinks in the United Kingdom that by voting No something better would come out of it, they are wrong."

The only Plan B was preparing a possible no-deal scenario in which Britain crashes out on March 29 into legal limbo, roiling Europe's economy, a senior EU official said..."

 

I suspect that the above is correct; the only choices now are this deal and a 'Hard' Brexit, neither of which seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, the UK is now in a position where it needs to choose which is the proverbial 'least worst' option.

 

I look at the whole situation with regret. Try as I might, I can't imagine any future where the UK is 'larger', more 'powerful' or more 'influential', rather I see a future where the UK is smaller, weaker and diminished.

 

I am not sure what else to say; for those who felt that the UK had to leave the EU, I sincerely hope that you still feel it was worth it a few years down the road.

 

 

If the EU are saying that the UK got the best possible deal,

you can be sure the UK has been F#%ked.

regards Worgeordie

Yup, if the EU likes it, it must be bad for the UK, or at least for that portion of the UK electorate that voted to leave.

I doubt whether the Deal can pass through Parliament.

Then time to extend Article 50 and hold an Election. If Labour have any sense, they will promise a referendum in their manifesto, and most likely win easily. Shame to have Corbyn as PM, but worth it if it means we can extricate ourselves from this Brexit shambles.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...There is no Plan B," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "If anyone thinks in the United Kingdom that by voting No something better would come out of it, they are wrong."

The only Plan B was preparing a possible no-deal scenario in which Britain crashes out on March 29 into legal limbo, roiling Europe's economy, a senior EU official said..."

 

I suspect that the above is correct; the only choices now are this deal and a 'Hard' Brexit, neither of which seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, the UK is now in a position where it needs to choose which is the proverbial 'least worst' option.

 

I look at the whole situation with regret. Try as I might, I can't imagine any future where the UK is 'larger', more 'powerful' or more 'influential', rather I see a future where the UK is smaller, weaker and diminished.

 

I am not sure what else to say; for those who felt that the UK had to leave the EU, I sincerely hope that you still feel it was worth it a few years down the road.

 

 

Funny, I'd hope that both EU and UK will come out stronger, "in the fullness of time"...

My hopes are that the Germans and French will let the dust settle, maybe shed off some more dead wood, by that I mean members who are not committed to European ideals, and then start thinking about federation.

And nothing will stop UK to become great, in the Swiss way maybe.

We all know it's a mess, only an idiot wouldn't. It's like those life changing decisions you make when you're drunk and reflect on in the cold sober light of morning. It was never going to go anywhere. A vast majority one way or the other would've given a mandate, with the country hung making the best of a bad job is about all you can hope for.

Britain chose its path to reverse course would prove weakness. Probably you have a cruddy deal but make the best of it. I believe in the long term Britain has made the right decision. There are other Trade Blocs emerging and they may be a better option than an over regulated bloated wale like the EU dominated by Berlin and Paris through Brussels

HMGs stance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/40-reasons-to-back-the-brexit-deal

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"Those who think that, by rejecting the deal, they would get a better deal, will be disappointed," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters

Still not learned that threatening the British is not something they respond kindly to. They'll more likely respond with "Okay bring it on, tossers"

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...There is no Plan B," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "If anyone thinks in the United Kingdom that by voting No something better would come out of it, they are wrong."

The only Plan B was preparing a possible no-deal scenario in which Britain crashes out on March 29 into legal limbo, roiling Europe's economy, a senior EU official said..."

 

I suspect that the above is correct; the only choices now are this deal and a 'Hard' Brexit, neither of which seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, the UK is now in a position where it needs to choose which is the proverbial 'least worst' option.

 

I look at the whole situation with regret. Try as I might, I can't imagine any future where the UK is 'larger', more 'powerful' or more 'influential', rather I see a future where the UK is smaller, weaker and diminished.

 

I am not sure what else to say; for those who felt that the UK had to leave the EU, I sincerely hope that you still feel it was worth it a few years down the road.

 

 

In the same way that most of the "doom and gloom'"predictions immediately after the referendum proved to be false, so will your own forecast now of a much diminished UK.  It was never stated that the UK would be "larger and more powerful" after leaving the EU, but just that we would to a very much larger extent be in charge of our own affairs.

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I am not sure what else to say; for those who felt that the UK had to leave the EU, I sincerely hope that you still feel it was worth it a few years down the road.

Many of those who voted leave will be dead from old age in a few years anyway, so they will neither know nor care.

 

The referendum should have been restricted to people under the age of 60, simply because they will be the ones most affected by it.

53 minutes ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

In the same way that most of the "doom and gloom'"predictions immediately after the referendum proved to be false, so will your own forecast now of a much diminished UK.  It was never stated that the UK would be "larger and more powerful" after leaving the EU, but just that we would to a very much larger extent be in charge of our own affairs.

The U.K. maintains an iron grip on the strategically important international market in Turnips.

 

Once this dawns on ‘Johnny Foreigner’ the U.K. will be recognised once again as the world’s leading economic and political power.

 

Empire #2 is there for the plucking.

57 minutes ago, grumbleweed said:

Still not learned that threatening the British is not something they respond kindly to. They'll more likely respond with "Okay bring it on, tossers"

Sort of like cutting our nose off to spite our face? Looks like many Brits have still not learned that we are not particularly imposing, not particularly worrying and not particularly strong.

1 hour ago, KittenKong said:

Many of those who voted leave will be dead from old age in a few years anyway, so they will neither know nor care.

 

The referendum should have been restricted to people under the age of 60, simply because they will be the ones most affected by it.

Great take on democracy, I use similar democracy in my kitchen, only Thais can do do the washing up. The reasoning is they are smaller than me, therefore nearer the sink and less likely to injure their back when bending over.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the bloc's veteran guiding force, echoed that unwillingness to speculate on what she called a "historic day" that was both "tragic and sad".

Perfect description of this government's handling of negotiations and actions throughout the whole brexit debacle.

 

Though an inept, incompetent and disastrous or two would help build a more accurate picture...

2 hours ago, nausea said:

We all know it's a mess, only an idiot wouldn't. It's like those life changing decisions you make when you're drunk and reflect on in the cold sober light of morning. It was never going to go anywhere. A vast majority one way or the other would've given a mandate, with the country hung making the best of a bad job is about all you can hope for.

This Brexit was voted for by racists. Xenophobia got them over the line. 

Bad decision, now suck it up. 

3 hours ago, worgeordie said:

If the EU are saying that the UK got the best possible deal,

you can be sure the UK has been F#%ked.

regards Worgeordie

It did get the best possible deal, what did you expect from the EU? It said from the very beginning that the UK could not 'cherry-pick' the parts it wants from the cornerstone of EU directives, in order for that to happen you must be in the EU. The UK chose to leave, so it got the best deal under the circumstances.

9 minutes ago, Pete1980 said:

This Brexit was voted for by racists. Xenophobia got them over the line. 

Bad decision, now suck it up. 

Knocked into a cocked hat by the % of brexiters posting on these boards who live happily in mixed race relationships ????

5 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Knocked into a cocked hat by the % of brexiters posting on these boards who live happily in mixed race relationships ????

Really so the fact that thais don't like dark-skinned people but are okay with white european types proves that they're not racists?

Well, the heavyweight with 450m EU people managed to beat the featherweight UK of 65m people. The final blow from the EU being the UK would not get a better deal, so don't even bother.

 

Surprise, surprise that is wasn't obvious from the off.  As it is unlikely parliament would accept a no deal, and if May's deal is also rejected, I surmise a people's vote will be the favoured way forward with remaining in the EU as an alternative option.  

2 hours ago, grumbleweed said:

Still not learned that threatening the British is not something they respond kindly to. They'll more likely respond with "Okay bring it on, tossers"

 

From what i have read in the uk papers,the deal has no chance of passing the vote in parliment.

Which country is going to take the UK place at the table,to keep the numbers up,

Albania,Serbia,Turkey,or Montenegro, thank God we are out,those countries

will all be takers.giving very little to the EU,except hoards of migrants.

regards Worgeordie

4 minutes ago, marko kok prong said:

From what i have read in the uk papers,the deal has no chance of passing the vote in parliment.

I seriously hope this is the case!

 

The worst of all possible 'worlds'.

1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

I seriously hope this is the case!

 

The worst of all possible 'worlds'.

It said on the news dick that if the deal is voted down that there will be another vote on it, it would not surprise me if it was passed on the second vote with Mrs May standing on the steps of parliament waving her agreement and chanting deal in our time.

3 hours ago, evadgib said:

HMGs stance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/40-reasons-to-back-the-brexit-deal

Much appreciate the link.

 

Politicians really do believe that the electorate is entirely stupid ☹️.

 A ten year old would have negotiated a better deal than this. Utterly  pathetic. Only one way to go now, a no deal hard Brexit.

2 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Really so the fact that thais don't like dark-skinned people but are okay with white european types proves that they're not racists?

An' you're from where?

http://www.discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/

 

 

 

Now the shooting starts.