Prime Minister :
At this Council meeting, I have held a series of discussions with
my fellow leaders on the Brexit deal and I was crystal clear
about the assurances which are needed on the backstop having
heard the views of MPs in the House of Commons.
I reiterated that it is in the interests of the EU as well as the
UK to get this over the line. A disorderly Brexit
would be good for no-one.
At 27 level, the EU have published a series of conclusions.
The EU made clear:
* that it is their firm determination to work speedily on a
future relationship or alternative arrangements which ensure no
hard border by 31 December 2020 so that the backstop will
not need to be triggered.
* If the backstop was ever triggered, it would apply only
temporarily and the EU would use its best endeavours to negotiate
and conclude expeditiously a subsequent agreement that would
replace the backstop.
* That the EU stands ready to embark on preparations so that
negotiations on the future partnership can start as soon as
possible.
As formal conclusions, these commitments have legal status and
therefore should be welcomed.
As I have always said, the guaranteed way of avoiding the
backstop is to have the future partnership in place by the time
the implementation period is over. The EU is very firmly
committed to this course.
But MPs will require further assurances, and I have discussed
that this morning with my EU partners, including Presidents Tusk,
Juncker and others.
I note there has been reporting that the EU is not willing to
consider any further clarification. The EU is clear – as I am –
that if we are going to leave with a deal this is it.
But my discussions with colleagues today have shown that further
clarification and discussion following the Council’s conclusions
is in fact possible.
There is work still to do and we will be holding talks in coming
days about how to obtain the further assurances that the UK
Parliament needs in order to be able to approve the deal.
I say again. It is in the overwhelming interest of all our people
– in the EU and the UK – to get this done, and as quickly as
possible.
