Leaders spar over Brexit

Photo: The Canadian Press

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker prepares to shake hands with British Prime Minister Theresa May before their meeting at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sparred on Thursday during "robust" talks on the U.K.'s Brexit plans, and agreed to hold more negotiations that could push the sealing of any deal to within a month of Britain's scheduled departure.

Looking at the ever tighter deadline and yawning divisions, May said "it's not going to be easy" but vowed: "I am going to deliver Brexit. I am going to deliver it on time."

The two leaders agreed to meet for more talks "before the end of February to take stock of these discussions," a joint statement said. Two years ago, May set Brexit day as March 29 — and originally plans were to have a deal in place six months ahead of time.

Both sides still fundamentally disagree on whether a draft legal withdrawal agreement could be changed to take the latest British objections into account, greatly reducing the chances of a quick breakthrough.

"The EU27 will not reopen the Withdrawal Agreement, which represents a carefully balanced compromise between the European Union and the U.K., in which both sides have made significant concessions," the joint statement said.

The simmering tension was evident in the leaders' body language as they met in a stiff ceremony.

Instead of his usual jovial kisses, Juncker held out his hand for May to shake and quickly ushered her off into his offices. One reporter shouted at her: "Is this hell, prime minister?"

It was a reference to comments by European Council President Donald Tusk, who exacerbated the frosty climate on Wednesday by wondering aloud what "special place in hell" might be reserved for those who backed Brexit with no idea of how to deliver it.

Highlighting the sensitivities, a public welcome appearance on camera between May and Tusk was cancelled hours before the encounter.

U.K. officials said May's primary concern was not to be "trapped" in a system that could see Britain linked to the EU in a customs union for an indefinite time.

Britain's Parliament voted down May's Brexit deal last month, largely because of concerns about a provision for the border between the U.K.'s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. The mechanism, known as the backstop, is a safeguard that would keep the U.K. in a customs union with the EU to remove the need for checks along the Irish border until a permanent new trading relationship is in place.