Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May
British Prime Minister Theresa May will discuss Brexit with her ministers on Tuesday, under pressure to rethink her plans from both some members of her Conservative Party and the European Union.
A day before May heads to Brussels for a summit, a senior EU official again made clear that parts of May's plan could not work and said the time was right to step up plans for Britain leaving the bloc without a deal.
With less than six months before Britain leaves the EU, Brexit talks have reached a stalemate over the so-called Irish backstop, a fallback plan to ensure there is no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland.
May told parliament on Monday she would not accept the EU's proposal for such a backstop because, she said, it could break up the United Kingdom.
Germany is well-equipped for all Brexit scenarios, a government official said on Tuesday, adding that a swift Brexit deal would be best both for businesses and citizens.The official also said significant progress had been made in negotiations on Britain's looming exit from the European Union and added that a so-called "backstop" for the Irish border in the exit agreement needed to be legally watertight.The official ruled out a Brexit agreement without a solution for the Irish border. Germany: Merkel ally vows 'grand coalition' is stableGermany's Maas hopes reason prevails to reach Brexit deal
Germany well-prepared for all Brexit scenarios
On Tuesday, a German official repeated the EU's line that the backstop needed to be legally watertight and without it there would be no Brexit deal.
Germany's European Affairs Minister Michael Roth offered this advice to May: "Take responsibility and be constructive."
But other ministers arriving in Luxembourg for a meeting of EU ministers pointed to the progress made so far in the Brexit talks.
May will update her cabinet of top ministers on the Brexit negotiations later on Tuesday, aware that some have come under pressure from Conservative eurosceptic lawmakers to persuade her to change tack over her so-called Chequers plan.
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
Eight of those ministers, some with concerns over Chequers and plans for a backstop, met late on Monday over pizza to discuss Brexit, the Telegraph newspaper reported, after reports that some may resign if May presses ahead.
May has so far shown little sign of moving away from the proposal for future ties hashed out at her country residence, and tried to make clear to lawmakers on Monday that the issue was now over the backstop - part of Britain's withdrawal terms.
Talks with the EU reached a stalemate on Sunday, increasing the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, which, some companies say, could disrupt trade, delay the movement of goods and starve the world's fifth largest economy of investment.
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
EU and British officials suggest it is unlikely that there will be any agreement on the backstop at this week's summit, but both are hopeful that progress can be made.
"Even if in this week's debate we are not going to have any kind of deal, there is still time, there is still possibility to get a deal," Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said in Luxembourg.