Hardline MEPs threaten to VETO Brexit deal: EU Parliament 'will not back down' on demands
HARDLINE euro MPs today reissued their threat to hit the nuclear button and blow up two years of negotiations between Britain and the EU if all their demands are not met.
Manfred Weber, chairman of the largest grouping in the EU Parliament, said MEPs “will not change our red lines” over citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and Ireland.
Speaking hours before Theresa May is set to jet into Brussels to meet EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, he expressed concern that the “negotiations are stalled”.
His remarks are in stark contrast to the prevailing mood of optimism in the Belgian capital, where diplomats believe the two sides are “85-90 per cent” of the way to securing a deal.
The outspoken German MEP, who is an ally of Angela Merkel, has been one of Brexit’s toughest critics and has repeatedly stressed the parliament is not afraid to wield its veto.
EbS
In #Brexit negotiations, money is one of the problems, but it is not the biggest one. We are much more concerned about the fact that negotiations are stalled on the protection of EU citizens’ rights & on the Irish case. 1/2
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) December 4, 2017
We will not change our red lines. The lives of millions of families are at stake. If no clear commitment is made, the @EPPGroup will not be ready to assess the progress made as sufficient to enter a 2nd phase of negotiations. #Brexit 2/2
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) December 4, 2017
Euro MPs cannot block member states from declaring sufficient progress at next month’s Council summit but they will get a make-or-break vote on the final deal in early 2019.
As a result any declaration of no sufficient progress by the Parliament, although entirely symbolic, could store up significant political difficulties for second phase of the talks.
Mr Juncker and the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, were due to meet a group of MEPs headed up by Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt this morning to discuss their concerns.
The meeting was widely seen as a sign the Frenchman is close to declaring sufficient progress has been made, which will trigger a recommendation that member states open trade talks this month.
We will not change our red lines
The EU Parliament has taken by far the hardest line of all the institutions and has particularly focussed on the issue of citizens’ rights, where they want cast iron guarantees on ECJ jurisdiction.
Mr Weber said: “In the Brexit negotiations, money is one of the problems, but it is not the biggest one. We are much more concerned about the fact that negotiations are stalled on the protection of EU citizens’ rights and on the Irish case.
“We will not change our red lines. The lives of millions of families are at stake. If no clear commitment is made, the EPP Group will not be ready to assess the progress made as sufficient to enter a second phase of negotiations.”
His remarks came in stark contrast to the mood music coming out of Brussels last night, where senior diplomats said that the UK and EU are now “90 per cent” towards agreement on all three key issues.
Diplomats spoke of “movement" and a “lack of negativity" surrounding the talks, with one saying Britain had provided “pretty much everything we asked for” on citizens’ rights.
The Irish border issue is now the one outstanding problem that could still scupper significant progress, with Dublin continuing to play hardball right up until the eleventh hour.
Last night an Irish official said there was “still a way to go” before sufficient progress has been made on the issue, adding: “The Irish government remains hopeful – but at this stage it is very difficult to make a prediction.”
EU Council president Donald Tusk, who is set to meet Mrs May this afternoon, has set a deadline of today for Britain’s final offer on all three key issues, though there is a possibility that could be extended to Wednesday.
