EU president: Brexit deal possible but a big challenge

BRUSSELS: European Union President Donald Tusk said a Brexit deal next month was possible but a “huge challenge”, and gave Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May 10 days to act.

Tusk issued the ultimatum on Friday after crunch talks with May on the sidelines of a Brussels summit, which the embattled British premier described as taking place in a “very positive atmosphere”.

The deadline gives May until a meeting with European Commission chief JeanClaude Juncker on Dec 4 to make sufficient progress on the key Brexit divorce issues.

Failing that, the EU leaders will refuse at their next summit on Dec 1415 to unlock the next phase of the Brexit negotiations, which are supposed to cover a future trade deal and transitional arrangement after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.

“Sufficient progress in Brexit talks at December Euco (summit) is possible. But still a huge challenge,” Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, said on Twitter after his hourlong meeting with May.

“We need to see progress from UK within 10 days on all issues, including on Ireland.”

An EU source said the talks were “long and honest”, with Tusk setting Dec 4 as an “absolute deadline for the United Kingdom to make additional efforts” in time for EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to formally declare enough progress.

“PM May agreed to this timeframe,” the source said on condition of anonymity. — AFP