Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said today that “it requires a change of approach by the UK government to understand that Brexit is a problem of their own creation.” And, “what was agreed was already a compromise” by the EU. UK government failed to secure ratification of the deal and “it should be a question of what they are now willing to offer us.”
Varadar also emphasized that “we have made a lot of compromises already and what is not evident is what the UK government is offering to the European Union and Ireland should they wish us to make any further compromises”. He added, “we were and remain happy to apply the backstop only to Northern Ireland if they want to go back to that. It doesn’t have to trap, or keep, all of Great Britain in the customs territory at all.”
European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein said “Technical discussions are ongoing. The EU side has offered ideas how to give further reassurances regarding the backstop, you are aware of all this, so there is no need for me to repeat it”.
UK Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said “History will judge both sides very badly if we get this wrong” And, “we want to remain the best of friends with the EU, that means getting this agreement through in a way that doesn’t inject poison into our relations for many years to come”.
Separately, it’s also reported that the trip of UK Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay to Brussels has been called off. And there is no plan for Prime Minister Theresa May to meet EU officials over the weekend.
