EU commission boss: We’ll do all we can to help May secure a deal
JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker has signalled to Theresa May that he is ready to do everything he can to prevent the collapse of her Government over Brexit negotiations, it was claimed last night.
The European Commission president has assured the Prime Minister that he will support ‘everything she does’ to prevent Cabinet splits and the growing row with the DUP from scuppering a deal.
It came as Mrs May was faced with mounting pressure to reach an agreement after talks broke down earlier this week.
Ireland’s prime minister last night said he expected Mrs May to make a fresh offer on the Irish border by tomorrow in an effort to get agreement on the terms of a Brexit divorce deal at next week’s EU summit.
Sources close to Mr Juncker yesterday said that he was prepared to meet Mrs May at any time in the run-up to next week’s meeting to thrash out a deal. They also said there was ‘wiggle-room’ to change the controversial wording in the agreement concerning the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, that caused talks to fail on Monday.
An EU source said: ‘It’s a highly difficult situation for Theresa May and he [Juncker] wants to help her. It’s important that he supports her in everything she does.’
However, the assurances are likely to be met with scepticism in Downing Street and could raise suspicions that the EU chief is trying to interfere in Britain’s politics.
Yesterday, Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, also performed something of a Uturn. Within hours of saying he would not water down his demands over the status of the Northern Ireland border, he offered fresh hope of movement.
He told Irish MPs: ‘We want to move to phase two [trade talks] but if it is not possible to move to phase two next week because of the problems that have arisen, well then we can pick it up of course in the New Year.’
But last night he insisted he had assured Mrs May he did want to move forward. He said: ‘Having consulted with people in London, she [Mrs May] wants to come back to us with some text tonight or tomorrow.
‘I expressed my willingness to move forward as well ... because I want us to move on to phase two if that is possible.’
Talks stalled on Monday after DUP leader Arlene Foster vetoed plans to retain ‘regulatory alignment’ between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.
The PM spoke to both Mr Varadkar and Mrs Foster yesterday, but last night government sources said there was ‘clearly still work to do’ on the issue.
Mrs May has set a deadline for reaching agreement on divorce terms by the key summit of EU leaders at the end of next week. Agreeing the terms is the key to Brussels agreeing to open negotiations on a future trade deal.