Encouraged by Johnson's visit, UK officials now hoping rest of EU agrees to work on Brexit solution

[rooster59]

Encouraged by Johnson's visit, UK officials now hoping rest of EU agrees to work on Brexit solution

 

FILE PHOTO - French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speak during a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, August 22, 2019. Christophe Petit Tesson/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is hoping the rest of the European Union falls in behind France and Germany and agrees to work on solving a deadlock over Brexit, with officials sensing a glimmer of hope after meetings this week, but conscious of the need for a wider consensus in Europe.

 

Britain is on course to leave the EU, its biggest trading partner, on Oct. 31 without any formal deal to soften the unprecedented divorce, unless both sides agree to reopen stalled talks and find a way to resolve their differences.

 

This week, some British newspapers cheered what they called a major breakthrough and sterling rose after both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron offered Prime Minister Boris Johnson what he described as "positive noises" on their willingness to consider an exit deal agreement.

 

But Berlin, Paris and Brussels said the bloc's position had not altered: the Withdrawal Agreement struck last year by then-prime minister Theresa May will not be changed much. And the clock is ticking.

 

British officials were also keen to douse talk of a big diplomatic victory but said they were pleased at the way the prime minister's first foreign visits had gone and that there had been a clear willingness to talk about solutions.

 

A separate source in Johnson's office said that while the meetings had been a success in terms of building rapport between the prime minister and the EU's two most powerful leaders, the rest of the bloc needed to show the same desire to work on a solution.

 

The source said Johnson would not make the mistake of thinking Merkel alone could deliver a new deal for Britain, criticising previous governments for being too keen on the idea that the German chancellor could be Britain's "saviour".

 

In an encouraging sign, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday he would be willing to listen to alternative plans for the Irish backstop - the biggest stumbling point to agreement - but warned there was no easy solution.

 

The need for broader support is likely to be relayed to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council that brings together all EU member states' leaders, when he meets Johnson on Sunday at a G7 summit in the French resort of Biarritz.

 

The meeting with Tusk, who has been a consistent critic of Britain's decision to leave the EU and its handling of negotiations, will give some indication on how much appetite there is to work for a deal among the rest of the bloc.

 

(Reporting by William James; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-24

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[Krataiboy]

Hope is the mother of all men.

[Estrada]

The outcome of the meeting was that the UK, not the EU, had 30days to come up with a technical solution to solve the Irish Border problem. They already had 3 years to come up with a solution which is unlikely to happen in 30days. Boris is likely to request yet more time, if he even survives a no confidence vote.

Edited August 24, 2019 by Estrada

[ardsong]

I fear the UK officials, that are enthusiast for some talk of EU leaders, have a faint hope for the impossible new solution to prevent a hard border.

 

IMHO, the existing "May" agreement with the EU stipulates this already , thus it is nothing new though Boris would for his PR push it like it is.

The "May"agreement has the back stop which is meant to be a temporary arrangement till such that that a new solution agreeable by all parties can be made, agreed upon and made working to handle the customs rules at the Ireland-NorthIreland border. That has not changed since last days discussions with Boris.

The EU leaders have just reminded Boris, who has overlooked the May agreement and has his head tolling for the Brexit, that if he (I mean of course his advisors) comes with a solution that is suitable , than of course the Back-stop is not necessary anymore.

The last 3 years there have been big efforts to make an arrangement fitting the custom requirements and preventing a hard border. Who would believe that after this long 3 years failure to establish an agreeable solution, it suddenly would be possible in the next 68 days?

 

The only positive thing of last days pleasures to Boris is, some listening ears to the solutions that Boris, UK or god knows who , have to come up with (but probably can not) that is acceptable to UK and EU.

[Chomper Higgot]

“But Berlin, Paris and Brussels said the bloc's position had not altered: the Withdrawal Agreement struck last year by then-prime minister Theresa May will not be changed much. And the clock is ticking.”

 

One needs no more evidence of the delusion that defines Brexit than to read the above and understand that Brexiteers find it encouraging of their pie in the sky hopes.

[jesimps]

18 minutes ago, Estrada said:

The outcome of the meeting was that the UK, not the EU, had 30days to come up with a technical solution to solve the Irish Border problem. They already had 3 years to come up with a solution which is unlikely to happen in 30days. Boris is likely to request yet more time, if he even survives a no confidence vote.

Theresa May and her remainer cabinet had 3 years to find a solution when all along they were just trying to postpone Brexit indefinitely. Boris is a different animal and realises the Tories could be finished if they don't deliver on time.

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, jesimps said:

Theresa May and her remainer cabinet had 3 years to find a solution when all along they were just trying to postpone Brexit indefinitely. Boris is a different animal and realises the Tories could be finished if they don't deliver on time.

The Tories will be finished if Johnson delivers a no-deal economy wrecking, job destroying Brexit.

 

Alternatively, make a big show of pretending to try to deliver Brexit, then let somebody else ditch the sorry mess and declare ‘I was the only one who tried’.

 

(I’m struggling to see why the Tories being ‘finished is a bad thing).

 

 

Edited August 24, 2019 by Chomper Higgot

[sandyf]

"n an encouraging sign, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday he would be willing to listen to alternative plans for the Irish backstop - the biggest stumbling point to agreement - but warned there was no easy solution."

 

The EU have been willing to listen since 2016, but there has never been a viable alternative plan put forward. The UK seems to think the answer lies in the EU breaching their own laws.

 

"will give some indication on how much appetite there is to work for a deal among the rest of the bloc."

 

A deal has been worked. No one has any appetite to reinvent the wheel.

[Enoon]

 

Merkel/Macron

 

Soft Cop/Tough Cop.

 

Johnson.........pickpocket.

 

 

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“But Berlin, Paris and Brussels said the bloc's position had not altered: the Withdrawal Agreement struck last year by then-prime minister Theresa May will not be changed much. And the clock is ticking.”

 

One needs no more evidence of the delusion that defines Brexit than to read the above and understand that Brexiteers find it encouraging of their pie in the sky hopes.

agree.... and much to my surprise all the TV brexiters are not commenting, maybe that means they "finally" understand the mess they are in or maybe in vacation 555

[St George]

16 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

agree.... and much to my surprise all the TV brexiters are not commenting, maybe that means they "finally" understand the mess they are in or maybe in vacation 555

 

 

No, just patiently waiting for 31st October - and ignoring remainer cr@p in the meantime.

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, Estrada said:

The outcome of the meeting was that the UK, not the EU, had 30days to come up with a technical solution to solve the Irish Border problem. They already had 3 years to come up with a solution which is unlikely to happen in 30days. Boris is likely to request yet more time, if he even survives a no confidence vote.

In 'der Spiegel' it is reported that Merkel and Macron have given him 30 days to go back and play with his toys

[RichardColeman]

Sat here now waiting for the pound to zoom like a rocket ! 100 baht to the pound, new wave of our global financial empire and the taking back of the colonies (including that troublesome one across the pond where we will ban the word soccer). Come on Boris, think positive ! 

 

OR we'll be invaded by Russia at the bequest of comrade Corbyn.

Or live in trees like Ewoks under the Green Party

[sawadee1947]

To be honest I couldn't see anything encouraging in his visit ????

[puipuitom]

5 hours ago, jesimps said:

Theresa May and her remainer cabinet had 3 years to find a solution when all along they were just trying to postpone Brexit indefinitely. Boris is a different animal and realises the Tories could be finished if they don't deliver on time.

And YOU think, the Tories would survive the disaster as about every economist and business(wo)man predicts ?

Edited August 24, 2019 by puipuitom

[puipuitom]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Sat here now waiting for the pound to zoom like a rocket ! 100 baht to the pound, new wave of our global financial empire and the taking back of the colonies (including that troublesome one across the pond where we will ban the word soccer). Come on Boris, think positive ! 

 

OR we'll be invaded by Russia at the bequest of comrade Corbyn.

Or live in trees like Ewoks under the Green Party

As where the English overwhelmingly voted for: 51,88% (whatever form of ) LEAVE (without any thinking of which consequences) , and just a neglectable minority of a mare 48,11 % voted for only ONE alternative: "REMAIN". 

Who burns his bottom, must sit on the blisters.

For the Russians: they simply do not have the military nor economic strenght do do much. Second: as soon as they hear, the UK is stuck with 3 MILLION tons of waste per year, they cannot export to the EU anymore for recycling and.., burn to energy.. they will rush away.

Trees... since Alfred the Great there are not enough trees for the English... That's why they invaded Scotland and occupied it till today ( maybe till 31 Oct 2019) .

Edited August 24, 2019 by puipuitom

[7by7]

7 hours ago, jesimps said:

Theresa May and her remainer cabinet had 3 years to find a solution when all along they were just trying to postpone Brexit indefinitely. Boris is a different animal and realises the Tories could be finished if they don't deliver on time.

 

Johnson voted for May's deal, and Brexit would have happened last March if May's deal had not been sabotaged by Rees-Mogg and his ERG in cahoots with Labour.

 

Everything I have read tells me that any deal Johnson comes up with will be identical to May's deal apart from tweaking with the Irish backstop. Prove me wrong if you can.

 

Johnson is not stupid; he must know that his political career will be finished if we leave without a deal. If he doesn't, then he is not fit to run a whelk stall on the front at Southend, let alone a country!

[billd766]

8 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Hope is the mother of all men.

My Mum's name was Ada Annie Louise.

 

[billd766]

8 hours ago, Estrada said:

The outcome of the meeting was that the UK, not the EU, had 30days to come up with a technical solution to solve the Irish Border problem. They already had 3 years to come up with a solution which is unlikely to happen in 30days. Boris is likely to request yet more time, if he even survives a no confidence vote.

The difference is that for 3 years the Remainers fought to deliver BRINO by cutting the Leavers out.

 

It took 3 years for Teresa May to screw the deal up.

 

Boris has 3 months to unscrew it and yet the Remainers are still fighting him.

 

Yet people still wonder why politicians are not trusted any more.

[sammieuk1]

There's nothing encouraging unless the entire government and EU falls under a bus but there is one acceptable solution to the NI problem rename it Scotland and do a swop then the English Welsh and Northern Irish will all be happy they are leaving the Scottish be as happy as a pig in <deleted> and don't have to leave and there will be no border with southern Ireland job done 5 mins thinking time and everyone's happy.  is the PM's job vacant I've cracked it and sack Dominic Cummings ????   

[elliss]

7 hours ago, jesimps said:

Theresa May and her remainer cabinet had 3 years to find a solution when all along they were just trying to postpone Brexit indefinitely. Boris is a different animal and realises the Tories could be finished if they don't deliver on time.

    Fyi , EU leaders and officials,  are not impressed with the loose cannon from the uk . 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2019 by elliss

[Jip99]

8 minutes ago, elliss said:

    Fyi , EU leaders and officials,  are not impressed with the loose cannon from the uk . 

 

 

 

 

Mutual feelings there then.

[elliss]

51 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

Mutual feelings there then.

 

        The looser is ?,  uk .  used to be UK ... 

         Swallow it ..

 

Edited August 24, 2019 by elliss

[elliss]

1 hour ago, sammieuk1 said:

There's nothing encouraging unless the entire government and EU falls under a bus but there is one acceptable solution to the NI problem rename it Scotland and do a swop then the English Welsh and Northern Irish will all be happy they are leaving the Scottish be as happy as a pig in <deleted> and don't have to leave and there will be no border with southern Ireland job done 5 mins thinking time and everyone's happy.  is the PM's job vacant I've cracked it and sack Dominic Cummings ????   

 

      We only have hope and prayer,   that the UK goverment fall ,

          under a Big Red Bus 

            God bless America ..

 

Edited August 24, 2019 by elliss

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

The difference is that for 3 years the Remainers fought to deliver BRINO by cutting the Leavers out.

 

It took 3 years for Teresa May to screw the deal up.

 

Boris has 3 months to unscrew it and yet the Remainers are still fighting him.

 

Yet people still wonder why politicians are not trusted any more.

If you recall back in November of last year Johnson made a big show and promised to deliver an alternative plan B.

 

He never did.

 

One more his lies.

[elliss]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

The difference is that for 3 years the Remainers fought to deliver BRINO by cutting the Leavers out.

 

It took 3 years for Teresa May to screw the deal up.

 

Boris has 3 months to unscrew it and yet the Remainers are still fighting him.

 

Yet people still wonder why politicians are not trusted any more.

 

     Policiticians deal in one thing only ,  filling their pockets .

      That said , there are those amongst us , who belive in democracy ..

        Yoy could not make that one up.  

 

[Krataiboy]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

My Mum's name was Ada Annie Louise.

 

And so you should be!

[sandyf]

A bit more Project Fear

 

“Of course, I think there is a massive opportunity for Britain but we must understand that it is not all going to be plain sailing,” the prime minister told reporters in Biarritz.

“There remain very considerable barriers in the US to British businesses which are not widely understood.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-boris-johnson-trump-us-uk-trade-deal-g7-meeting-a9077751.html

[Nigel Garvie]

12 hours ago, billd766 said:

  20 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Hope is the mother of all men.

Mitochondrial Eve is in reality the mother of all men (And women). Lived c. 150,000 years ago in Africa, her name is not recorded.

Presumption appears to have been the father of all men, but then again "We're a' Jock Tamson's Bairns"

 

I also am very sorry!

[oxforddiver]

Regarding the Irish backstop problem, I read a comment a while back that pointed out that Switzerland has five borders with EU partners and they are open and do not have a problem.

I myself have walked at Geneva airport into France to catch a plane and saw no controls at all.

Why is Ireland being held up as a special case, or is the EU just creating a problem. Clever.