Sunday

4th Jun 2023

Brexit talks to continue after May-Juncker meeting

  • Jean-Claude Juncker, who wore a plaster on his face because he had cut himself saving, he said, welcomed May in the EU commission headquarters (Photo: European Commission)

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and British prime minister Theresa May agreed to continue Brexit talks and meet again in February after what they described as "constructive" talks in Brussels on Wednesday (20 February) evening.

May told a British broadcaster after the hour-long meeting that she had sought "legally binding changes" to the Brexit deal which the EU and the UK agreed in November, but which failed to get support in the UK parliament.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

She is pushing for tweaks to the so-called backstop, an arrangement that would keep Britain aligned with the EU's customs union to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

"That's what is required if a deal is going to pass the House of Commons ... Time is of the essence," May said.

The EU has ruled out changes to the withdrawal agreement, but is willing to come up with annexes to the Brexit deal that could soothe concerns in the UK parliament.

Expectations were low in the EU on Wednesday's meeting, the second of its kind in two weeks, with EU officials and member states wanting to first see assurances that May can get a modified deal through parliament before they budge.

Discussions between Juncker and May focused on figuring out "which guarantees could be given with regard to the backstop that underlines once again its temporary nature and give the appropriate legal assurance to both sides", according to a joint statement.

They also touched on "the role alternative arrangements could play in replacing the backstop in future".

May said that her Brexit minister, Steve Barclay, would be back in Brussels on Thursday, along with British attorney general Geoffrey Cox, who has emerged as a key player on the UK side, as he holds the view the backstop could become a permanent state for the UK.

Negotiators are hoping to convince Cox that the EU does not intend to keep the backstop in place forever, but only until a better solution is found to keep open the border on the island of Ireland under a new deal on future British-EU relations.

Cox told British lawmakers in December that although the Brexit deal stipulated the backstop would be temporary and only apply until the two sides had settled their future relationship, there was no way for the UK to leave the arrangement without the approval of EU member states.

Changing Cox's legal advice could swing the necessary number of votes in favour of the Brexit deal in Westminster, negotiators hope.

The EU, however, argues that a time limit to the backstop, or a unilateral exit clause for the UK kills the purpose of the deal as an insurance policy.

In a joint statement, May and Juncker said they were working on "appropriate legal assurance to both sides".

Brexit looms

But with only 37 days until Brexit, the risk of a no-deal scenario is increasing.

The UK could ask for a delay on Brexit to negotiate further and to avoid running out of time to pass the necessary laws in the next month to prepare for its departure.

"Of course, if Britain fails to prepare some sensible option on time, then there is always a possibility to extend these negotiations in time. This would be better than a divorce without agreement," EU Council president Donald Tusk said in an interview on Wednesday.

May will meet with several EU leaders during a weekend summit with Arab governments in Egypt.

The EU leaders are also looking for assurances she can deliver parliamentary ratification for the deal before they agree to attach any new provisos to the Brexit accord.

The talks come as three Tory MPs left May's party to join a new "Independent Group" in parliament together with eight Labour MPs who broke away from Britain's main opposition party.

The three MPs criticised May's government for letting the "hard-line anti-EU awkward squad" take over the party, BBC reported.

Barnier: UK has to move on Brexit

No breakthrough emerged from the meeting between the top EU and UK negotiators on Monday evening in Brussels. Michel Barnier urged the UK to move on its red lines to help clinch a deal, with 45 days left until Brexit.

Low hopes for May visit, as Tusk warns of Brexiteer 'Hell'

EU council chief Donald Tusk said he wondered if there is a 'special place in hell for those who promoted Brexit without a plan', as Brussels expects British PM Theresa May to arrive on Thursday - without a plan.

EU and UK in Brexit brinksmanship

British prime minister Theresa May is to urge the EU to back down on Ireland in a speech to eurosceptic British workers 21 days before the Brexit due date.

Agenda

Brexit and Orban in spotlight This WEEK

As EU leaders gather in Egypt to discuss migration with Arab leaders, UK leader Theresa May will lobby them to agree to a revised Brexit deal.

Opinion

How the EU's money for waste went to waste in Lebanon

The EU led support for the waste management crisis in Lebanon, spending around €89m between 2004-2017, with at least €30m spent on 16 solid-waste management facilities. However, it failed to deliver.

Latest News

  1. Spanish PM to delay EU presidency speech due to snap election
  2. EU data protection chief launches Frontex investigation
  3. Madrid steps up bid to host EU anti-money laundering hub
  4. How EU leaders should deal with Chinese government repression
  5. MEPs pile on pressure for EU to delay Hungary's presidency
  6. IEA: World 'comfortably' on track for renewables target
  7. Europe's TV union wooing Lavrov for splashy interview
  8. ECB: eurozone home prices could see 'disorderly' fall

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. InformaConnecting Expert Industry-Leaders, Top Suppliers, and Inquiring Buyers all in one space - visit Battery Show Europe.
  2. EFBWWEFBWW and FIEC do not agree to any exemptions to mandatory prior notifications in construction
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us