EU ready to make concession on UK Brexit deal: Diplomatic sources
A German newspaper has cited European Union diplomatic sources as saying that the bloc is ready to make concessions on a controversial clause in the UK’s withdrawal agreement that made it fail to go though the British parliament.
Citing diplomatic sources in Brussels, Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday that the EU could offer new concessions on the so-called backstop clause in the Brexit agreement which sets out plans for administration of the only land border between the EU and the UK on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
The newspaper said Germany, the Netherlands and other countries are ready to offer further compromises on the backstop after lawmakers in the British parliament roundly rejected a draft withdraw deal signed between the British government and the EU in November. However, the report said such a compromise would only come if EU member Ireland accepts it.
When details of the deal emerged for the first time last year, lawmakers in the House of Commons warned that they could not accept the backstop as it would allow the EU to include the entire UK in its customs union if the two sides fail to reach a comprehensive trade mechanism by the end of 2020.
British Prime Minister Theresa May had tried to gain assurances from the EU on the clause so that lawmakers in the Commons would accept her deal. However, the deal was defeated in a Tuesday vote by a crushing margin of more than 200 votes.
The defeat prompted the opposition Labour Party to table a vote of no-confidence in May’s government. However, many expect the premier to survive the motion and go ahead with her plan for a disorderly Brexit on March 29.
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