Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May
The European Union will not reconsider parts of the Brexit agreement with Britain that have already been agreed on, like the divorce bill London will have to pay, a spokesman for the bloc's executive said on Thursday.
Prime Minister Theresa May suggested on Wednesday London could refuse to pay a financial settlement to the bloc if the sides fail to reach a comprehensive agreement on Britain's withdrawal from the EU.
"We will not be revisiting those areas of the withdrawal agreement that are now settled, including the financial settlement," the European Commission spokesman told a regular news conference.
If Britain does not reach an exit deal with the European Union, the "position changes" on its agreement to pay a financial settlement to the bloc, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday.As part of a Brexit transition deal, Britain has agreed to pay the EU between 35 and 39 billion euros ($41-$46 billion) over the coming decades."We are a country which honours our obligations, we believe in the rule of law and therefore we believe in abiding by our legal obligations," she told parliament."However ... the specific offer was made in the spirit of our desire to reach a deal with the European Union and on the basis, as the EU themselves have said, that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, without a deal the position changes." Brexit rebels make proposals on Irish border issueEU's Juncker says ties with UK will always be close but Brexit demands remainPutin says Russia knows real identity of men accused by UK over poisoningUK 'strongly' agrees with Turkey's Erdoğan on IdlibAbout 50 Conservative lawmakers discuss ousting UK PM May
UK PM May says 'position change' on divorce payment if no Brexit deal
Brexit supporting rebels in Prime Minister Theresa May's party made proposals on Wednesday which they said would allow trade to flow over the Irish border while safeguarding the integrity of the European Union's Single Market."Such measures can ensure that the trade across the Irish border is maintained," said the lawmakers from the European Research Group (ERG), a grouping in May's Conservative Party which wants a sharper break with the EU."The integrity of the EU Single Market is safeguarded," the lawmakers said. "The UK and the EU would be free to conclude a far-reaching Free Trade Agreement."EU's Juncker says ties with UK will always be close but Brexit demands remainBoth the EU and Britain want to avoid a so-called hard border between UK's Northern Ireland and the EU's Irish Republic because such a border could undermine a 1998 peace agreement that ended decades of sectarian conflict in the north.But it is still unclear how goods crossing between the EU and the UK in Ireland would be monitored if there is no border and if Northern Ireland, as a part of the UK, leaves both the customs union and the single market.Under the lawmakers' proposals, any additional declarations could be incorporated into the existing system used for VAT returns. They also said licensed customs brokers could be engaged to support businesses in dealing with rules of origin and customs arrangements. About 50 Conservative lawmakers discuss ousting UK PM May
Brexit rebels make proposals on Irish border issue
Lawmakers from British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party can vote against her Brexit plans without it being a vote of confidence in her government, the head of an influential group of pro-Brexit lawmakers said on Tuesday.Brexiteers have said as many as 80 of May's 315 lawmakers could vote against her so-called Chequers plan, leaving the fate of the government and the Brexit deal in the hands of the opposition Labour Party.If she loses that vote, Britain could leave the EU without a deal, an outcome some believe would spark a crisis of confidence that could cost her the premiership.UK finance minister says time running out on Brexit; BoE governor to stay onJacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the European Research Group, a faction within May's Conservatives, plans to vote against the Chequers deal but said that does not mean May has to go."The vote on the legislation will not be a vote of confidence," Rees-Mogg, tipped by some as a possible successor to May, told a pro-Brexit event in parliament."We can vote down the bad Chequers proposals on Monday and support the government in a vote of confidence on Tuesday. They are separate things and trying to align them I think is a mistake. So we can carry on supporting the prime minister but we can oppose this policy until it is changed or collapses."'EU Salzburg summit is a staging post in Brexit talks'
Rejecting Brexit plan is not a confidence vote on UK PM May: Conservative lawmaker