The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
No-deal more likely than ever, Brussels warns
Theresa May insists deal still ‘achievable’ despite deadlock ahead of summit
Britain is “more likely than ever before” to crash out of the European Union without a deal, Brussels has warned.
Theresa May insisted a Brexit deal is still “achievable” despite deadlock in negotiations just days ahead of a crunch summit.
But hours later, European Council president Donald Tusk said that while there was good will on both sides, the negotiations have been more complicated than expected.
A group of Cabinet ministers met yesterday evening to discuss the developments, with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Environment Secretary Michael Gove among those who attended, the Press Association understands.
Mrs May will address the leaders of the remaining 27 EU nations tomorrow before they discuss over dinner without her how to proceed in the talks.
In a letter to EU leaders ahead of the summit, Mr Tusk said: “As things stand today, it has proven to be more complicated than some may have expected.
“We should nevertheless remain hopeful and determined, as there is good will to continue these talks on both sides.
“But at the same time, responsible as we are, we must prepare the EU for a no-deal scenario, which is more likely than ever before.
“Like the UK, the Commission has started such preparations, and will give us an update during the meeting.”
He added: “But let me be absolutely clear. The fact that we are preparing for a no-deal scenario must not, under any circumstances, lead us away from making every effort to reach the best agreement possible, for all sides.
“This is what our state of mind should be at this stage.
“As someone rightly said: ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done’. Let us not give up.”
Mrs May called for “cool, calm heads to prevail” after talks last weekend failed to bridge differences between the UK and EU over the future status of the border in Ireland.
And she warned of the danger that failure to reach agreement over the border could result in the UK leaving the EU without a deal in March next year.