EU chief Donald Tusk demands Theresa May ‘reworks’ her Brexit plan at crunch talks
2 min read
Theresa May’s Brexit proposals must be "reworked and further negotiated" before a final deal can be agreed, European Council President Donald Tusk has said.
Appearing ahead of a crunch summit in Salzburg, the Brussels chief urged the Prime Minister to tweak her current proposals on the contentious Northern Irish border issue and confirmed that an emergency Brexit summit will take place in mid-November.
While he welcomed a "positive evolution" in the UK's stance in recent months, Mr Tusk warned: "On other issues, such as the Irish question, or the framework for economic co-operation, where the UK proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated.
"There is more hope but there is surely less and less time, every day left we must use for talks."
The intervention is a blow for Mrs May as she prepares to urge the EU to drop its "unacceptable demands" on Northern Ireland.
Ministers are concerned that the EU's "backstop" proposal - which is intended only to be used if Britain's own plans are deemed unworkable - would jeopardise the UK by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the customs union and single market after Brexit.
The Prime Minister’s alternative Chequers plan seeks to allow "frictionless" trade across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, but it has met with opposition from Brussels as well as her own backenchers.
David Davis, who dramatically quit the Cabinet over the summer in opposition to the Chequers plan, is meanwhile braced to brand the Prime Minister's negotiating gambit "devoid of democracy".
In a speech in Munich the ex-Brexit Secretary will say: "We have been told that the Chequers proposal fulfils what the British people voted for. Well, I am afraid I simply do not buy that.
"52% of British voters oppose the proposals. Only 18% approve. It is quite remarkable for a government policy to be that unpopular."
According to extracts released in advance, the Tory big beast also promise that the Brexiteers' "more ambitious vision" for leaving the EU will be unveiled "shortly".
Speaking on Tuesday ahead of the two-day Salzburg gathering, Michele Barnier - the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator - meanwhile said he wanted to "de-dramatise" the Northern Ireland border issue and vowed to "respect the territorial integrity" of the UK.
He said: "We are ready to improve this proposal. Work on the EU side is ongoing.”
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