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Still no viable Brexit proposals from UK, EU says after talks
BRUSSELS, Sept 16, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Britain has still not proposed any
workable alternatives to the Northern Ireland “backstop” provisions of its
Brexit withdrawal agreement, the EU said Monday after talks between bloc
chief Jean-Claude Juncker and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The first face-to-face encounter between Johnson and European Commission
president Juncker failed to yield any major breakthrough, although Downing
Street insisted it had been a “constructive meeting”.
Johnson says Britain will not agree to a divorce deal that includes the
backstop, a provision which temporarily keeps the UK in the EU customs union
to keep the Irish border open, and will not delay Brexit beyond October 31,
even if it means leaving with no deal.
Juncker’s office said he used the lunch meeting in Luxembourg to reiterate
the EU view that it is Britain’s responsiblity to come up with a workable
alternative to he backstop, which was agreed by Johnson’s predecessor Theresa
May but rejected by MPs.
“President Juncker recalled that it is the UK’s responsibility to come
forward with legally operational solutions that are compatible with the
Withdrawal Agreement,” a statement from Juncker’s office said.
“President Juncker underlined the Commission’s continued willingness and
openness to examine whether such proposals meet the objectives of the
backstop. Such proposals have not yet been made.”
Alongside the main meeting, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier also
held talks with British Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay.
A small but noisy clutch of anti-Brexit protesters greeted Johnson as he
arrived and left the talks, singing the “Ode to Joy” EU anthem, waving flags
and chanting slogans.
With just six weeks to go before Brexit day, the two sides have agreed to
step up the pace of talks, Downing Street said, with negotiators to start
meeting “soon” on a daily basis rather than twice a week as at present.
“It was agreed that talks should also take place at a political level
between Michel Barnier and the Brexit Secretary, and conversations would also
continue between President Juncker and the prime minister,” a spokesperson
said.
BSS/AFP/RY/1859 hrs