Brexit summit could be cancelled over deal delay, EU warns
A special European summit to sign-off the Brexit deal could be cancelled just days before its set to take place, the EU has warned ahead of Theresa May’s visit to Brussels.
European leaders are set to gather in Brussels on Sunday to rubber stamp the deal, which consists of a withdrawal agreement and political declaration on the future of EU-UK relations.
The withdrawal agreement was finalised last week but talks over the political declaration, which will set the framework for a trade deal, are going down to the wire.
Theresa May is meeting European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday evening in a bid to finalise the document.
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A commission spokesperson described the meeting, which will also be attended by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, as “afternoon tea.”
But the stakes have been raised by warnings that Sunday’s summit could be called off if the political declaration isn’t finalised imminently.
European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said the deal must be completed in time for a meeting of “sherpas” – representatives of European leaders – on Friday morning.
“The European Council article 50 format is set to meet on Sunday as you know and for that we will need to have agreed beforehand the political declaration on the future relationship and we are not there yet,” he told journalists on Wednesday.
“Sherpas are due to meet on Friday and of course they will need to see a final text before then and the commission stands ready to consider the text and stands ready to take any action at any time.”
Behind the scenes, the deadline is believed to be even tighter.
Germany’s ambassador to the EU told a meeting of diplomats on Tuesday that Friday would be too late and a final text is needed by Thursday morning at the latest.
German chancellor Angela Merkel would pull out of the summit if that was not the case, the ambassador warned.
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The warning comes as last ditch demands from some member states complicate efforts to seal the deal.
Spain has threatened to veto any deal that does not explicitly state that the future relationship between the EU and UK will not apply to Gibraltar without their consent.
Speaking in the German parliament, Merkel said: “We still have an objection in Spain. I can’t say exactly how we solve this issue, but I hope it will be solved by Sunday.”
Juncker also said he would address the concerns of the French fishing industry over access to UK waters when he meets May.
