The British government has announced a breakthrough in the EU’s renegotiation of the Brexit agreement. Deputy Prime Minister David Lidington informed Parliament in London on Monday evening.
Prior to this, Prime Minister Theresa May had once again met EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU negotiator Michel Barnier in Strasbourg. With the compromise, May wants to secure a majority in the lower house for the disputed withdrawal agreement in London.
Already on Tuesday, the British MPs will vote on it. Until recently, it was considered likely that the negotiated with Brussels deal will fail. After days of standstill in talks with the EU May sought the breakthrough at the last minute with the surprising trip to Strasbourg. It is unclear whether this is enough to gain enough support in the lower house.
As Lidington said, the British government wants to present two documents to Parliament: a joint, legally binding declaration on the exit agreement and the so-called backstop for the Irish border. And a joint statement supplementing the political statement in which Britain and the EU outline their future relationship. Ultimately, Britain could suspend the Irish border regime if the EU breached its obligations.
The backstop is the sticking point in the Brexit dispute. This is the guarantee requested by Brussels for an open border between the EU Member State of Ireland and Northern Ireland. So far, it is envisaged that Britain will remain in a customs union with the EU as a whole until a different solution is found. But reject the Brexit hardliners in May Conservative Party.
In case of a rejection of the contract on Tuesday, May wants to let the parliamentarians vote on a vote without a deal on Wednesday. If this is also rejected, the deputies decide on Thursday whether London should apply for a Brexit shift.
