May in Brussels again, seeking Brexit movement

By Gabriela Baczynska

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen outside Downing Street in London, Britain, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May makes another trip to Brussels on Wednesday, hoping European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker may prove more yielding than of late to salvage her Brexit deal.

 

With Britain set to jolt out of the world's biggest trading bloc in 37 days unless May can either persuade the British parliament or the European Union to budge, officials were cautious on the chances of a breakthrough.

 

The key sticking point is the so-called backstop, an insurance policy to prevent the return of extensive checks on the sensitive border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

 

May agreed on the protocol with EU leaders in November but then saw it roundly rejected last month by UK lawmakers who said the government's legal advice that it could tie Britain to EU rules indefinitely made the backstop unacceptable.

 

She has promised parliament to rework the treaty to try to put a time limit on the protocol or give Britain some other way of getting out of an arrangement which her critics say would leave the country "trapped" by the EU.

 

A spokesman for May called the Brussels trip "significant" as part of a process of engagement to try to agree on the changes her government says parliament needs to pass the deal.

 

But an aide for Juncker quoted the Commission president as saying on Tuesday evening: "I have great respect for Theresa May for her courage and her assertiveness. We will have friendly talk tomorrow but I don't expect a breakthrough."

 

EU sources aired frustration with Britain's stance on Brexit, saying Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay brought no new proposals to the table when he was last in Brussels on Monday for talks with the bloc's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.

 

On Tuesday, the EU responded to UK demands again: "The EU 27 will not reopen the withdrawal agreement; we cannot accept a time limit to the backstop or a unilateral exit clause," said Margaritis Schinas, a spokesman for Juncker.

 

"We are listening and working with the UK government ... for an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU on March 29."

 

May's spokesman again said it was the prime minister's intention to persuade the EU to reopen the divorce deal.

 

"There is a process of engagement going on. Tomorrow is obviously a significant meeting between the prime minister and President Juncker as part of that process," he said.

 

LEGAL ADVICE

Barclay and Britain's Attorney General Geoffrey Cox are also due back in Brussels midweek and want to discuss "legal text" with Barnier that would give Britain enough assurances over the backstop, British sources said.

 

It is Cox's advice that the backstop as it stands is indefinite, which May is trying to see changed by obtaining new legally binding EU commitments.

 

May needs to convince eurosceptics in her Conservative Party that the backstop will not keep Britain indefinitely tied to the EU, but also that she is still considering a compromise idea agreed between Brexit supporters and pro-EU lawmakers.

 

May's spokesman said the Commission had engaged with the ideas put forward in the so-called "Malthouse Compromise" but raised concerns about "their viability to resolve the backstop".

 

The EU says the alternative technological arrangements it proposes to replace the backstop do not exist for now and so cannot be a guarantee that no border controls would return to Ireland.

 

Barnier told Barclay the EU could hence not agree to this proposal as it would mean not applying the bloc's law on its own border.

 

Eurosceptic lawmakers said Malthouse was "alive and kicking" after meeting May on Tuesday.

 

May has until Feb. 27 to secure EU concessions on the backstop or face another series of Brexit votes in the House of Commons, where lawmakers want changes to the withdrawal deal.

 

EU and UK sources said London could accept other guarantees on the backstop and the bloc is proposing turning the assurances and clarifications it has already given Britain on the issue in December and January into legally binding documents.

 

(Additional reporting and writing by Alastair Macdonald and Elizabeth Piper in London; Editing by Gareth Jones and Dan Grebler)

 

 -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-20

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

May in Brussels again, seeking Brexit movement

I think she'll find she has nothing to go on.

('work it out' for yourself)

Needs to go to AA and learn

"If you keep doing the same behavior and expect a different outcome, that's crazy"

 

"Don't you remember dear? you were here last week.......yes, that's right.....we sorted it all out then......I SAID WE SORTED IT ALL OUT THEN.  Yes......off you go.......careful of the traffic.........bye."

 

 

Edited February 20, 20197 yr by Enoon

23 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

"Don't you remember dear? you were here last week.......yes, that's right.....we sorted it all out then......I SAID WE SORTED IT ALL OUT THEN.  Yes......off you go.......careful of the traffic.........bye."

 

 

Remember the next time we see you, you'll need a visa.

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Remember the next time we see you, you'll need a visa.

No...., 90 days free travel E.U. , but need passport for the entry date stamp

Edited February 20, 20197 yr by david555

What a complete cluster f#%€k. This woman was completely the wrong person to being in any negotiation with the EU. Nearly three years and still trying to negotiate at the last minute....Pathetic all the way round. The daughter of a vicar fron Eastbourne says it all.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

May in Brussels again, seeking Brexit movement

Maybe Teaser May should try dried prunes for some movement .. 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

11 hours ago, webfact said:

May in Brussels again, seeking Brexit movement

Maybe Teaser May should try dried prunes for some movement .. 

Still nothing will get past her.

37 minutes ago, Mansell said:

What a complete cluster f#%€k. This woman was completely the wrong person to being in any negotiation with the EU. Nearly three years and still trying to negotiate at the last minute....Pathetic all the way round. The daughter of a vicar fron Eastbourne says it all.

she has been poor tbf but she is trying to clean up the mess caused by bojo and co,the same bojo who who bottled becoming leader after seeing the mess he helped create,in his own words mays deal only needs a little fine tuning,now this wasnt what he was preaching before the vote.

If I were to say Head & Wall, I think you will get the picture...

 

Sad  and desperate. What a cock  up. The scenario is  becoming  similar  to a  " wall " concept .

When something is  dead  as  a saying  goes " a million blowflies can't  be wrong " !

If sprouts are on offer get a couple of bags for the only likely movement before Calais gets blockaded ????

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

Maybe Teaser May should try dried prunes for some movement .. 

 

 

Or Taser May just for fun????  

Good afternoon Mrs May, go on in he is waiting for you, I have pencilled you in for the same time next week...

   All is not lost,  Nigel is due back soon , to save the country .     

    

 

 

Edited February 20, 20197 yr by elliss

3 hours ago, Mansell said:

What a complete cluster f#%€k. This woman was completely the wrong person to being in any negotiation with the EU. Nearly three years and still trying to negotiate at the last minute....Pathetic all the way round. The daughter of a vicar fron Eastbourne says it all.

She is a vile hag, alright. Being married to Mrs baboon I know exactly what I am talking about. 

However the Brexit Ultras weren't and aren't exactly keen to replace her, are they? Now why might that be, given the country is speaking with one voice, according to them? Replacing her should have been the easiest deal in Tory history, surely? 

Inflammatory post and reply removed.