Brexit: Theresa May hopes the UK will leave the EU with an agreement



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Theresa May arriving in Brussels

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Theresa May said that she "sincerely hoped" that the UK would leave the EU with an agreement and that she "will continue to work" to secure Parliament's agreement.

Arriving in Brussels, she said she regretted "personally" her request to delay Brexit, while giving MEPs time to make a "final choice".

At the EU summit, the prime minister spoke to the other 27 leaders to try to secure their support for a delay beyond March 29.

For his part, Jeremy Corbyn said his talks in Brussels were "very constructive".

According to BBC Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming, May spoke to European leaders for 90 minutes. She was repeatedly asked what her emergency plans were if she lost the third "meaningful vote" on her agreement to Parliament.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned that if MEPs voted against May's withdrawal agreement with the EU next week, the UK would leave without an agreement.

"In the case of a negative British vote, we would be heading towards a" no deal. "We all know that, and it is essential to be clear in these days and times," said Mr. Macron when he arrived at the summit. .

EU negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, said that a short Brexit deadline "should be contingent on a positive vote in the House of Commons next week".

"We did our best, the solution is now in London," he said.

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How will the day be organized (schedules are approximate):

  • European leaders discuss the opportunity to access UK demand and explore other Brexit options
  • 18:00 GMT – Press conference by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission
  • 18:30 GMT – Working dinner
  • Ms. May should also make a statement

Upon her arrival in Brussels, Ms May said: "A short extension gives us the opportunity to decide to leave the European Union, to follow up the outcome of this referendum and sincerely hope that this will be with a negotiated agreement. "

She added: "I am always trying to ensure that the Parliament reaches an agreement so that we can leave in an orderly manner".

Earlier, Angela Merkel, speaking in front of the German Parliament, said that the EU could respond to Ms. May's request to delay Brexit if a "positive vote" on the agreement withdrawal had been organized in the British Parliament.

The German Chancellor said that the European elections at the end of May should be taken into account in discussions on the suggested 30-day extension period, adding: "But of course we can talk about a short-term extension."

Leaders want to avoid a Brexit without agreement

Beware of reports of "huge" differences between EU leaders regarding the Brexit delay and the way ahead in the coming days.

Let us quote the Germans Angela Merkel and French Emmanuel Macron: there are big differences in their political styles.

And big differences in the message they want to send to their own national audience (hard for France, open for Germany) when talking about Brexit.

But like most European leaders, aside from the irritation, frustration and fatigue badociated with Brexit, they would prefer to avoid an expensive Brexit without a transaction.

Chancellor Merkel, along with European Council President Donald Tusk, announced that she would work "until the last hours" to try to avoid it.

And although European leaders have ruled out the reopening of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and the "backstop" text, you can bet that they will discuss a longer deadline on the eve of Brexit when from their top of today.

They will also discuss the brief delay requested by Theresa May, in case, as the EU fears, chaos and division will continue next week in Westminster.

The UK must leave the EU next Friday unless the law is changed. The current default position to leave is without a withdrawal agreement.

Ms May agreed to an agreement with the EU, but MEPs rejected it twice.

She asked the EU for a short extension of the Brexit process, lasting two years, until June 30, but any extension must be approved by all members of the EU. EU.

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was convinced that the EU would accept a short extension, which would only be the case if the agreement of Mrs May was signed by the deputies the week next. Another EU summit next week could be called urgently if necessary, he said.

Tusk said the "question remains open" on the deadline for support from other European leaders.

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), Leo Varadkar, said that he appreciated the "somewhat chaotic" situation in London. For this reason, "it is necessary to give a little perspective to the whole of the British establishment".

He said that there was "opening to an extension" as "nobody wants to agree".

In her Wednesday night address at number 10, Ms. May insisted that she would not be willing to postpone Brexit until June 30, despite calls by some MPs.

She added, "I'm absolutely sure of that, you, the public, are tired of it.

"You're tired of internal struggles, political games and obscure procedural wrangling, MPs who talk about nothing other than Brexit when you have real concerns about our children's schools, our national service. health, the crime of knife.

"You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over, I agree, I'm on your side."

She said it was now incumbent on MPs to decide whether they wanted to leave with her contract, not agree or not at all. But she warned that the latter option could cause "irreparable harm to public confidence" towards politicians.

Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said the UK would face three options if May's contract was again rejected next week: repeal Article 50; to leave without an agreement; or a longer extension could be granted at an emergency summit of the EU, but with "onerous conditions".

"The choice we have now is to solve this problem or extreme unpredictability," Hunt told BBC Radio 4's Today program.

He also defended the Prime Minister's statement, saying that Ms. May was under "extraordinary pressure" and that MPs have a "special responsibility" in a suspended parliament.

Many members have expressed anger at Ms. May's comments. Conservative MP Nicky Morgan told the BBC's World of One that they were "terribly misjudged".

Her colleague Tory Ben Bradley, who had supported Ms. May's agreement, said it was "not useful".

Meanwhile, trade union and trade union leaders have written a joint letter to Mrs May asking her to "change course" in her approach to Brexit, stating that the UK is facing a "national emergency".

TUC Secretary General Frances O & Grady and IWC Executive Director Carolyn Fairbairn have requested a meeting to discuss their concerns.

They said: "Our country is facing a national emergency, and the decisions of the past few days have triggered a surge in the risk of non-agreement.

"Businesses and communities in the UK are not ready for this, and the shock of our economy will be felt for future generations."

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Reuters

Legend

Jeremy Corbyn says consensus can be built around Labor's plan

Union leader Jeremy Corbyn said talks with Brexit EU negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission Secretary General Martin Selmayr in Brussels were "very constructive".

"Our determination is to prevent an exit without the agreement of the European Union next Friday," he said.

"We are therefore looking for alternatives and the creation of a majority in Parliament that can agree on future constructive economic relations with the European Union."

He stated that he had "contacted" colleagues from all parties in Parliament about it.

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