EU Leaders Rebuff May's Plea Over Brexit Deal
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published December 14, 2018 | 11:10 AM
EU leaders rebuffed a plea by Theresa May on Thursday to help her sell her Brexit deal to parliament, warning she must set out exactly what she wants -- and announcing they would step up contingency plans in case the deal collapses.
Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Dec, 2018 ) :EU leaders rebuffed a plea by Theresa May on Thursday to help her sell her Brexit deal to parliament, warning she must set out exactly what she wants -- and announcing they would step up contingency plans in case the deal collapses.
The British prime minister came to a Brussels summit a day after seeing off a challenge to her leadership by her own Conservative MPs, but still facing huge opposition to the divorce deal with the EU.
She told the other 27 leaders the agreement could still pass the House of Commons next month if they helped her reassure lawmakers over a controversial "backstop" clause on Ireland, a British official said.
But European sources said the atmosphere in the room was tense, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders repeatedly interrupting May to ask exactly what she wanted.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters afterwards: "Our UK friends need to say what they want instead of asking us what we want.
" He added: "Theresa May has led a courageous fight, but unfortunately we are not seeing the results." May floated the idea of setting a target date to agree a free trade deal with the EU if one had not been agreed by the end of a post-Brexit transition period, to avoid Britain falling into the backstop.
Many of her MPs fear the arrangement for Britain to enter a temporary customs union with the EU to avoid border checks with Ireland could become permanent.
But European leaders have said they will not accept a time limit, and after May left agreed a statement that the Brexit deal "is not open for renegotiation".
With May having promised to have something to offer MPs before they finally vote on the Brexit deal by January 21, Juncker said she would have to come up with proposals in the next few weeks if she wanted Europe's support.
However, he said he would publish further plans on Wednesday to protect European businesses and citizens in case the deal fails, and Britain exits on March 29 with no new arrangements place.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
'Charter of economy is the need of the hour': Asif
14 bodies found in Haiti capital suburb amid gang violence
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announces metro bus projects in three ..
PM, UAE ambassador discuss ties
FM, US ambassador agree to enhance ties
Bear injures five in latest Slovak attack
Families of two WASA workers to be compensated properly: Minister
Jam Kamal expresses concern over delay in work of Bela, Jhao roads
FM desires to strengthen Pak-China ties
Michelin unveils 62 newly starred French restaurants
US hopes Haiti transitional council ready 'as soon as' Monday
Excise dept introduces mobile vehicle registration service
More Stories From World
-
China supports UN in playing positive role in combating Islamophobia
6 hours ago -
Famine in Gaza expected 'anytime' from now, says UN agency
6 hours ago -
Iraqi Kurdish party to boycott local polls in tussle with federal court
7 hours ago -
UN agency chief says Israel blocked him from entering Gaza
7 hours ago -
14 bodies found in Haiti capital suburb amid gang violence
8 hours ago -
Bear injures five in latest Slovak attack
7 hours ago
-
Michelin unveils 62 newly starred French restaurants
7 hours ago -
US hopes Haiti transitional council ready 'as soon as' Monday
7 hours ago -
N.Korea's Kim says Russian voters showed 'unshakeable support' for Putin
8 hours ago -
Paris suburb beefs up security after police station attack
9 hours ago -
Over 100 kidnapped in two new attacks in Nigeria
9 hours ago -
Nottingham Forest docked four points for breaching Premier League financial rules
10 hours ago