Britain unsuccessfully tries to get concessions from EU27
ADVERTISEMENTWhat a difference a night makes: First the UK prime minister arrived in Brussels seeking help to win over skeptics back home over the Brexit deal, but then left with little to show for her trip.
Arriving for the second day of the summit, the prime minister of Luxembourg was quite clear in rejecting any changes to the deal.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, there won't be any renegotiations, that's out of the question. Basta! We have negotiated. All we can do now is offer clarifications in case they need it, but that's it."
May had asked for assurances that the so-called Northern Irish backstop would be temporary.
Council president Tusk said it was an insurance policy adding:
"The European Council also underlines that - if the backstop were nevertheless to be triggered - it would apply temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement that ensures that the hard border is avoided."
Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU will step up preparations for a no-deal scenario, something echoed by other leaders in Brussels.
Here you have Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel: "Objectively speaking, what we heard yesterday was not particularly reassuring on the ability of Great Britain to honor its engagement which was agreed upon, and we are going start looking into all possible outcomes, including a no-deal scenario."
How all this is going to play out is anybody's guess at this point.