#Brexit: May makes a plea for concessions

At her request, British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to the heads of government of the EU-27 over dinner (19 October). May admitted that talks were floundering and called for a joint effort to avoid the possibility of negotiations going further off track, writes Catherine Feore.

The result of today’s (20 October) meeting is a foregone conclusion. The Brexit Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, the European Parliament and the President of the European Council Donald Tusk are in complete agreement that ‘sufficient progress’ has not been made on the three phase one issues: the financial settlement, citizens’ rights and the Irish border.

The one meagre concession expected after today’s discussions is that Michel Barnier will be allowed to begin “internal preparatory work” on the next phase of negotiations. In a press briefing after the dinner German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she anticipated that phase two discussion would be even more complicated.

Theresa May said: ““There is increasingly a sense that we must work together to get to an outcome we can stand behind and defend to our people, the clear and urgent imperative must be that the dynamic you create enables us to move forward together.” According to those in the room, the presentation was not followed by any discussion.

May’s Florence speech was meant to unlock the process, but the British team are still unclear about their financial commitments, are unwilling to let give on significant elements on citizens’ right and while accepting the EU’s six principles on the Irish border have failed to come up with any plausible solution.

European leaders will be aware of the clear rifts within May’s cabinet and more extreme elements who are calling on May to walk out of talks, supporting a ‘no deal’ option. Nonetheless it will be difficult to knock the EU tanker off course.

Asked about Brexit on their way into yesterday’s meeting, there was a sense of exasperation with the UK. Luxembourgish Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, said “we set the conditions from the start”. Prime Minister of Finland Siplia echoed these views and said that he was not yet preparing for no deal. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte said that he had spoken to May and urged her to provide more clarity than that in the Florence speech, he said this has not yet happened.

EPP’s President Joseph Daul said: “One thing is for sure: on 29 March 2019, the UK will no longer be a member of the EU. It is now up to the UK to present concrete proposals to move to the next phase of the negotiations.”

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