Germany's Angela Merkel, EU leaders rule out more negotiations on Brexit

Berlin, December 12: Germany's Angela Merkel and other European Union leaders ruled out more negotiations on Brexit but were looking for ways to offer Britain reassurances after British Prime Minister Theresa May pulled a parliamentary vote rather than lose heavily.

 

With less than four months left until the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29, May’s Brexit deal is floundering, opening up prospects that run the gamut from a disorderly no-deal divorce to calling Brexit off.

A day after abruptly pulling the vote, May rushed to the Hague for breakfast with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, then to Berlin to meet Chancellor Merkel, followed by a trip to Brussels.

The message from the EU was clear that it can give legally-binding assurances about how it interprets the exit treaty, but will not countenance reopening the text itself. Meanwhile, May told Merkel that it was in nobody’s interest for Britain to leave with no accord.

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said that there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation .The deal which we achieved is the best possible deal.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, echoed that view. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Britain could still revoke or delay its departure.