Juncker: Now let’s do a deal let’s do a deal
EU chief says he ‘doesn’t have an erotic relationship with backstop’
HOPES for a Brexit breakthrough were rising last night after Jean-Claude Juncker declared: ‘We can have a deal.’
In an apparent change of heart, the EU Commission chief – long seen as a roadblock to a deal – said he was no longer wedded to the Irish backstop, which Boris Johnson has vowed to scrap.
Mr Juncker said that a No Deal Brexit would have ‘catastrophic consequences’ for both sides and that he was now ‘doing everything to have a deal’ ahead of the UK’s scheduled departure at the end of next month. He added that he did not have an ‘erotic’ relationship with the backstop.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar, another leader seen as an obstacle to a deal, also struck an upbeat tone, saying: ‘The mood music is good.’ But he added: ‘The gaps are still very wide and we have no time to lose.’ Arlene Foster, of Northern Ireland’s DUP, hinted a solution was in sight, saying: ‘We can find a way through.’
Mr Johnson is now preparing for a major push at next week’s UN General Assembly in New York, which he is hoping to turn into a mini Brexit summit. The Prime Minister plans to use the gathering to hold Brexit talks with a string of senior figures, including Mr Varadkar, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Johnson yesterday welcomed the softening in Mr Juncker’s position, saying: ‘I think we are making some progress.’ But Downing Street sources warned there was still ‘a long way to go’ before a deal was struck.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay insisted the EU needed to ‘take risks’ to achieve a deal. He added that it was not necessary to agree the full details of an alternative to the backstop until the end of next year.
Mr Juncker’s change of heart came days after he held talks with Mr Johnson in Luxembourg. Sources said Mr Juncker told the Prime Minister he was not willing to reopen the agreement struck with Theresa May.
Some senior Tories believe the more emollient tone is designed to convince voters the EU is serious about a deal, following a backlash over the Luxembourg premier Xavier Bettel’s attempt to humiliate Mr Johnson this week.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Juncker said: ‘I had a meeting with Mr Johnson. This was a rather positive meeting. We can have a deal.’ When asked if the chances were ‘more than 50/50’, he said: ‘I don’t know, but I’m doing everything to have a deal.’ He added: ‘As far as these so-called alternative arrangements are concerned, allowing us and Britain to achieve the main objectives of the backstop – I
‘The mood music is good’
don’t have an erotic relationship to the backstop – but if the results are there I don’t care about the instrument.’
Mr Juncker’s comments represent a dramatic U-turn from earlier in the summer. His shift will be seen as vindication for Mr Johnson’s ‘do or die’ pledge to take Britain out of the EU by October 31. Downing Street sources last night confirmed that the UK is also asking Brussels to consider making it clear that there will be no further Brexit extensions if a deal is struck in the coming weeks.
Sources said the move would force MPs to finally choose between leaving with a deal and leaving without it – with no more options for delay.
Yesterday it emerged the UK has tabled proposals for solving the Irish border conundrum. The papers flesh out the Government’s thinking on how the backstop could be replaced so Britain no longer faces being locked into a customs union with the EU.
No 10 stressed they were ‘technical non-papers’ – jargon for discussion papers which are not part of formal negotiations. It is understood they build on Mr Johnson’s idea of creating an all-Ireland zone for standards on food and agricultural products.
Downing Street also dismissed a September 30 deadline for submitting final plans discussed by Mr Macron during a meeting on Wednesday. A spokesman said: ‘We will table formal written solutions when we are ready.’