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WORLD NEWS Saturday 15 december 2018

May aims to rescue Brexit plan; EU says ball’s in UK’s court

By JILL LAWLESSS to move swiftly on forging a May was filmed speaking always at Prime Minister miring her, because this is a
LORNE COOK new trade deal after Britain sternly to Juncker as lead- Theresa May’s disposal.” woman of great courage
Associated Press leaves the bloc, and prom- ers arrived at Friday morn- But May’s against-the-odds doing her job in the best
BRUSSELS (AP) — British ised that a legally binding ing’s session of the summit. optimism contrasted with way possible.”
Prime Minister Theresa May May canceled a Brexit vote
launched a rescue mission in the U.K. Parliament this
for her ailing Brexit deal Fri- week after it became clear
day, after the European that lawmakers would re-
Union rebuffed her request soundingly reject the Brexit
to sweeten the divorce deal she concluded with
agreement so she can win the EU last month. Anger at
over hostile lawmakers at that postponement helped
home. EU leaders meet- trigger a no-confidence
ing in Brussels showed little vote in May from members
appetite to resolve May’s of her own Conservative
Brexit impasse for her, say- Party. She won, but was left
ing the U.K. Parliament weakened after more than
must make up its mind. The a third of her lawmakers re-
choice was either back the belled.
Brexit agreement or send Still, May insists she will se-
Britain tumbling out of the cure enough changes to
bloc in March without a get Parliament’s approval
deal and into unknown in a vote before Jan. 21.
economic chaos. May says failure to support
“There is one accord, the her deal could lead to a
only one possible,” French “no-deal” Brexit, which offi-
President Emmanuel Ma- cials warn could bring eco-
cron told reporters at the nomic recession, gridlock
end of a two-day summit. at U.K. ports and shortages
He said it was “the British of essential goods.
parliament’s time” to de- British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels, The problem is that May’s
cide whether to accept Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. deal is loathed both by
or reject it. The Brexit grid- Associated Press pro-Brexit lawmakers, who
lock has left Britain’s future think it keeps Britain bound
looking like a high-stakes insurance policy to keep She said they had had a a pessimistic tone from too closely to the bloc, and
gamble with a dizzyingly the Irish border open would “robust” exchange. many on the EU side. EU pro-Europeans, who see it
wide range of possible only be used temporarily. Nonetheless, May told re- leaders expressed deep as inferior to staying in the
outcomes. There could be They rejected British pres- porters in Brussels that she doubts that May could live EU. Opposition Labour Party
an orderly or a disorderly sure to put a fixed end date welcomed the EU’s reas- up to her side of their Brexit leader Jeremy Corbyn said
Brexit. May’s Conservative on the border guarantee, suring words — and that, as agreement and vowed to the EU’s refusal to renego-
government could fall and and refused to re-negoti- formal conclusions of an EU step up preparations for a tiate meant May’s Brexit
an early election be held. ate the Brexit agreement, a summit, they “have legal potentially-catastrophic plan was “dead in the wa-
Britain could make a last- 585-page legal text settling status.” “no-deal” scenario for Brit- ter.” But Labour not yet
minute request to the EU to issues including the size of “There is work still to do. ain’s departure. triggered a no-confidence
give it more time and not Britain’s divorce bill and the And we will be holding talks “We are going to be sure to vote in May’s government.
leave the bloc on March future rights of Europeans in coming days about how prepare for all hypotheses, Many in the EU feel the
29. Some people are even living in Britain and Britons to obtain the further assur- including the hypothesis of problem lies with Britain’s
pressing for the U.K. to hold living in the EU. It also in- ances that the U.K. Parlia- a ‘no deal,” said Belgian divided Parliament, which
a second referendum on cludes a document laying ment needs in order to be Prime Minister Charles Mi- largely dislikes May’s deal
Britain’s EU membership. out the two sides’ hopes for able to approve the deal,” chel, who expressed a “gi- but doesn’t agree on a
So many possibilities, so lit- future relations, which isn’t May said. gantic doubt” that May better option. Luxembourg
tle time. May came to the legally binding. European Council Presi- could get her Brexit deal Prime Minister Xavier Bettel
EU summit seeking legally European Commission Pres- dent Donald Tusk, howev- passed by British lawmak- said the problem was not
binding changes to the ident Jean-Claude Juncker er, said no talks with Britain ers. Britain’s leader.
agreement, which is op- accused Britain of failing to were scheduled. But there was also sym- “We know what Theresa
posed by a majority of Brit- give detailed proposals on “I have no mandate to or- pathy for a leader who May wants, and she wants
ish lawmakers. Brexit, saying it was “up to ganize any further negotia- has endured the toughest to have the possible deal
But the 27 other EU leaders the British government to tions,” Tusk told reporters. week of her career. passing Westminster, but
offered only reassurances. tell us exactly what they “But of course, we will stay Juncker said May was “a the problem is the MPs in
They said they would seek want.” here in Brussels, and I am good friend, and I am ad- London,” he said.q