EU bosses say the Withdrawal agreement ‘not open for re-negotiation’ MOMENTS after MPs back an amendment to get a better deal
BRUSSELS last night told Theresa May the backstop is “not open for renegotiation” seconds after MPs voted to send her back to get a better deal.
Council chief Donald Tusk shot down hopes of a compromise in a damning statement issued as the PM took to the floor in the Commons.
His official spokesman said: “The Withdrawal agreement is and remains the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU.
“The backstop is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Withdrawal Agreement is not open for re-negotiation.”
The remarks were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who insisted the Brexit deal was “not renegotiable”.
Mr Tusk’s called on the UK to “clarify its intentions with respect to its next steps as soon as possible”.
And he added that if the UK requests an extension to Article 50 “the EU27 would stand ready to consider it and decide by unanimity”.
The Council chief vowed the bloc “will continue our preparations for all outcomes, including a no-deal scenario”.
Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker had told Mrs May in a phone call before the vote that the EU isn’t prepared to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement.
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The chief eurocrat sunk suggestions that MPs passing the Brady amendment to renegotiate the backstop would cause Brussels to soften its position.
A source told The Sun the EU boss’ remarks were “the line of all the EU27 countries and the EU institutions”.
Mrs May also spoke on the phone to the Irish PM Leo Varadkar ahead of the vote. Speaking just beforehand, he vowed Dublin would “hold our nerve”.
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