Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May
Leaders of the other 27 EU member states will listen to British Prime Minister Theresa May give her view of the Brexit talks before they discuss among themselves how to proceed at a summit dinner on Wednesday, a senior EU official said on Tuesday.
They will also be briefed by EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as well as by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker, who will update them on preparations for the risk that there is no Brexit treaty before Britain leaves the European Union in March.
The official, involved in preparing the summit, told reporters that the time was right to step up such preparations but that it was also necessary to keep trying to reach a deal.
Germany wants British Prime Minister Theresa May to come up with constructive ideas and take responsibility for getting her supporters to back a final Brexit deal, European Affairs Minister Michael Roth said on Tuesday.As he arrived for a meeting of EU ministers in Luxembourg, Roth told reporters that Berlin was aware that May had difficulties in getting a parliamentary majority but that the EU had limited room for manoeuvre to go any further toward the British position on avoiding a hard border for Northern Ireland.Asked what his message to May would be, Roth said: "Take responsibility and be constructive." Dutch minister hopes for deal but prepares for hard BrexitBritish, Turkish foreign ministers meet in London
Germany urges May to 'take responsibility' to get Brexit deal
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said on Tuesday that the Netherlands was hoping for a deal on Britain's orderly exit from the European Union but he added his country was also preparing for a no-deal scenario."We hope for a negotiated Brexit," he told reporters at an EU ministers' meeting in Luxembourg which will discuss Brexit ahead of a EU leaders' summit on Wednesday and Thursday."At the same time we hope for the best and we prepare for the worst. So we also prepare for a hard Brexit," Blok said.He also said that he hoped there will be an extraordinary summit of EU leaders on Brexit in November, as this would mean that a deal was close. British, Turkish foreign ministers meet in LondonUK parliament must fix culture of bullying, top officials may have to go: reportBritain believes there are ways to solve Brexit backstop
Dutch minister hopes for deal but prepares for hard Brexit