German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the leaders of the European Union (EU) will not change the agreement with Great Britain on Brexit, but that they could consider "additional guarantees".
After arriving at the EU summit in Brussels, Merkel said it was very good news that British Prime Minister Theresa May won the support of her Conservative Party MPs in an intra-party vote of confidence in her leadership.
Merkel warned against expecting too many compromises from the EU, saying that the Brexit deal May is trying to secure the support of the British parliament is "very well negotiated".
"Of course, we also have our principles and I don't see that we can change this (Great Britain) withdrawal agreement again. We can, of course, discuss whether there could be additional guarantees, but the 27 (remaining) members will be very united on that question," stated the German chancellor.
She added that the EU wants "very, very good relations" with London after Great Britain withdraws from the Union.
Kurz: We want to avoid a scenario in which there will be no agreement
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said today that future relations and a better interpretation of the already existing separation agreement can be discussed with Great Britain, but that there will be no new Brexit negotiations.
"We want to avoid a scenario in which there will be no agreement. I think the deal we have is good and there will be no further negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom," says Kurz.
He assessed that both the EU and Britain "want the same thing", which is a "better interpretation of the agreed" withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU, as well as "discussions about their future relations".
Routes: Clarify and demystify the "safety net" measure at the summit in Brussels
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said today that it is impossible to reopen the discussion on the EU-Britain withdrawal agreement, reports Tanjug.
Rute said that EU leaders and British Prime Minister Theresa May should achieve "clarification and demystification" of the "safety net" measure at the summit in Brussels.
"Tonight we need to get an explanation about the safety net." In Britain, everyone thinks that this measure is inevitable, but no one in the EU wants to start a safety net, it's bad for both the EU and the UK," said Rute.
He explained that the so-called "safety net" was agreed to regulate the situation on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland if an agreement on future relations between the Union and Britain is not reached by 2022.
"Great Britain has decided to leave the EU. Theresa May negotiated the withdrawal agreement. There is nothing new on the table that could be negotiated, just to get demystification and clarification of the safety net issue," says Rute.
He repeated that the agreement reached on the withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU is "the best and only possible" and that the EU summit is expected to "only clarify" the measures of the safety net and why "nobody wants to start it".
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