The European Union has given Britain new assurances to ease the Brexit blockade in the London parliament. In a statement at the Brussels Summit, the 27 remaining EU countries stated that the application of the special rules for an open border in Ireland should be avoided wherever possible.
Follow-up agreement as soon as possible
If the so-called backstop is still needed, „it would only be applied for a limited period of time, until it would be replaced by a follow-up solution that ensures that a hard limit is avoided,“ the resolution said. In this case, the EU would use all its resources to negotiate and conclude a follow-up agreement quickly. The same would be expected from the UK, „so the backstop will only last as long as we need it“.
The EU is trying to refute British concerns that the backstop would be a permanent solution. Strict Brexit advocates fear that Britain would remain closely tied to the EU in the long run and could not conclude its own trade agreements. One of the reasons why there is no majority in the British House of Commons for the withdrawal agreement. Britain wants to leave the EU on 29 March 2019.
British Prime Minister Theresa May had to postpone a vote scheduled for last Tuesday on the Brexit Treaty in the House of Commons for lack of majorities. On Wednesday, members of their own Tory party had launched a vote of no confidence against them, but May was able to win.
In order to get the agreement through Parliament, she had demanded „legal and political assurances“ from the EU. However, the promises made now by the summit are not legally binding.
„Nebulous and imprecise“
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said after the summit talks that the EU would at the same time intensify its preparations for a British exit from the EU without an agreement. Next week, the Commission will present a guide to such a tough Brexit, Juncker announced. The President of the Commission criticized the British attitude as „sometimes nebulous and imprecise“.
He called on the British government to clarify in the coming weeks what exactly they expected from Brussels. „Our British friends have to tell us what they want instead of asking us what we want,“ he said. „I need clarification.“
