EU leaders stand together over Brexit deal

European leaders warned MPs yesterday that Britain’s Brexit divorce deal was the ‘‘best possible’’ and that voting it down in Westminster would not lead to the EU making a better offer.

After a historically brief summit to give political assent to the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future relationship, the EU leaders queued up to support the package that has emerged after 17 months of grinding negotiations.

‘‘This is the best deal possible’’ said Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission. ‘‘I am inviting those who have to ratify that deal in House of Commons to take this into consideration. This is the best deal possible. This is the only deal possible.’’

Juncker’s remarks heralded a procession of EU prime ministers and presidents, all broadcasting the same uncompromising message.

‘‘There is no Plan B,’’ said Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister. ‘‘This is the deal on the table and I’m not willing to contemplate defeat in the British Parliament because I have every confidence in Theresa May and the wisdom of the British people.’’

Describing the 585-page deal as an ‘‘excellent result’’ for both Britain and the EU, Rutte said that MPs should not fool themselves into thinking that a ’no’ vote would trigger new concessions on difficult issues such as the Irish backstop.

‘‘If anyone would think in the UK by voting no that something better will come out of it, they’re wrong. If there was anything better, Theresa May would’ve got that because she’s fought very hard. This is the best we can get for both the EU and the UK.’’

The united EU line came as Emmanuel Macron warned that if the deal was ratified, France and the EU would soon press for continued access to British fishing waters after Brexit after the bloc set its red lines for future trade negotiations with Britain.

A UK-EU trade deal will be made conditional on Britain granting the EU-27 fishing rights and signing up to EU standards on tax, environment and state aid. The agreement will only apply to Gibraltar if Spain gives its explicit permission.

‘‘We shall defend access to the British waters as being part of the indispensable balance,’’ said Macron, promising that fish would be a ‘‘key point’’ for the future negotiations.

He warned that failure to reach the trade deal could lead to Britain being stuck in the ‘‘bare bones’’ customs union that is the Irish border backstop.

Leo Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach also poured cold water on the hopes of Brexiteers wishing to renegotiate the Irish backstop to give the UK an exitclause, as some have demanded.

‘‘The idea that something else can be negotiated, even leaving aside the time frame, just doesn’t add up,’’ he said.

The Irish leader said the Brexit deals had the support of all 28 leaders, but that any attempt to renegotiate them risked upsetting a delicate political equilibrium, predicting that MPs would have to accept the deal.

‘‘We have an agreement now. I don’t see anyone coming up with an alternative deal with that level of support or weight behind it. As we get closer to the vote, it will become more and more obvious that the alternative to this deal is a no deal,’’ he added.

– Telegraph Group

‘‘I am inviting those who have to ratify that deal in House of Commons to take this into consideration. This is the best deal possible. This is the only deal possible.’’ Jean-Claude Juncker, EU president