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A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 8 February 2019

UK, EU leaders don’t budge on Brexit but agree to more talks

By RAF CASERT on whether the divorce
LORNE COOK agreement struck between
JILL LAWLESS May’s government and the
Associated Press EU — and then summarily
BRUSSELS (AP) — Britain rejected by Britain’s Parlia-
and the European Union ment — can be changed
refused to budge an inch to ease British objections.
Thursday toward any com- “The EU27 will not reopen
promise over Brexit, but at the Withdrawal Agree-
least they are on speaking ment, which represents a
terms again about their im- carefully balanced com-
pending divorce. promise between the Eu-
They agreed to further ropean Union and the U.K.,
negotiations in the next in which both sides have
few weeks, although that made significant conces-
means any deal will come sions,” the joint statement
perilously close to the said.
scheduled deadline of U.K. officials said May’s pri-
March 29. That risks a cha- mary concern was not to
otic departure for Britain be “trapped” in a system
that could be costly to both that could see Britain linked
sides — both to businesses to the EU in a customs union
and ordinary people. for an indefinite time and
“A no-deal is for us not an not be able to set its own
option. It is a disaster on trade agenda.
both sides of the Chan- Britain’s Parliament voted
nel,” said Guy Verhofstadt, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, British Prime Minister Theresa May and down May’s Brexit deal last
the European Parliament’s European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, center, walk to their meeting at the month, largely because of
chief Brexit official. European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. concerns about a provision
Looking at the ever-tighter Associated Press for the border between the
deadline, British Prime Min- to deliver Brexit. I am going Wednesday by wondering May said she had “raised U.K.’s Northern Ireland and
ister Theresa May said after to deliver it on time.” aloud what “special place with President Tusk the EU member Ireland. The
talks at EU headquarters in May was able to clear the in hell” might be reserved language that he used,” mechanism, known as the
Brussels, “it’s not going to air after EU Council Presi- for those who backed Brex- saying his words “caused backstop, is a safeguard
be easy.” dent Donald Tusk exacer- it with no idea of how to widespread dismay” in Brit- that would keep the U.K.
But she vowed: “I am going bated the frosty climate deliver it. ain. in a customs union with the
Tusk’s comments were con- EU to remove the need for
demned by British Brexiteers checks along the Irish bor-
but at least served to focus der until a permanent new
minds on how wide a gulf trading relationship is in
remains between the U.K. place.
and the EU. It was little sur- Thursday’s statement said
prise that talks at EU Com- that May “raised vari-
mission headquarters were ous options for dealing
described as “robust.” with these concerns in the
At the end, May and EU context of the withdrawal
Commission President agreement.”
Jean-Claude Juncker Many pro-Brexit lawmak-
agreed on a renewed ef- ers in Britain say they won’t
fort to hold more negotia- vote for the withdrawal
tions on seeking a break- agreement unless the
through. backstop is removed from
The two leaders agreed the 585-page, which the
to assess progress “before EU leaders oppose vehe-
the end of February to take mently.
stock of these discussions,” Juncker and the other
a joint statement said. Two leaders have agreed to
years ago, May set Brexit look for a compromise in a
day as March 29 — and political text accompany-
original plans were to have ing the withdrawal agree-
a deal in place six months ment, but not in the docu-
ahead of time. ment itself.
As the time shrinks between “What we would look at as
a deal and the cutoff date, positive from today is that
the more difficult it be- there are going to be talks,”
comes for businesses and a senior Downing Street
authorities to adapt quickly official said, speaking on
to the fundamental chang- condition of anonymity to
es that a withdrawal from discuss the UK-EU negotia-
the bloc would entail. tions. “Obviously we’ve got
Both sides still disagree work to do.”q