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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/18/it-is-the-eus-turn-to-compromise-on-brexit-says-dominic-raab-no-deal
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| It is the EU's turn to compromise on Brexit, says Dominic Raab | It is the EU's turn to compromise on Brexit, says Dominic Raab |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dominic Raab has insisted that the EU must compromise in the Brexit talks as the European council president, Donald Tusk, warned that the “catastrophe” of a no-deal scenario was “still quite possible”. | |
| In an interview with continental European newspapers, the UK’s Brexit secretary said it was the EU’s time to move on its red lines, and that warm words would not suffice with so little time left until Brexit day. | In an interview with continental European newspapers, the UK’s Brexit secretary said it was the EU’s time to move on its red lines, and that warm words would not suffice with so little time left until Brexit day. |
| “We have shown a lot of flexibility and we have been very pragmatic,” Raab said. “So I think this is the moment to see that matched … The ball is a little bit in the other court now.” | “We have shown a lot of flexibility and we have been very pragmatic,” Raab said. “So I think this is the moment to see that matched … The ball is a little bit in the other court now.” |
| Raab was speaking on the eve of a leaders’ summit in Salzburg where Theresa May will appeal to the 27 EU member states to compromise to get a deal done. The leaders will then discuss the state of the negotiations over lunch the following day. | Raab was speaking on the eve of a leaders’ summit in Salzburg where Theresa May will appeal to the 27 EU member states to compromise to get a deal done. The leaders will then discuss the state of the negotiations over lunch the following day. |
| “Salzburg is an informal EU summit, but it will be an important milestone – a stepping stone if you like – to show we’ve actually got the contours of an agreement on principles to continue the final weeks of these negotiations,” Raab said. “Positive words are helpful. But what we need now is concrete action and decisions.” | “Salzburg is an informal EU summit, but it will be an important milestone – a stepping stone if you like – to show we’ve actually got the contours of an agreement on principles to continue the final weeks of these negotiations,” Raab said. “Positive words are helpful. But what we need now is concrete action and decisions.” |
| There is no sign of any compromise by the EU on its opposition to the central economic planks of May’s Chequers proposals: a common rulebook on goods and a customs arrangement to allow the UK frictionless trade and the power to strike its own free trade deals. | There is no sign of any compromise by the EU on its opposition to the central economic planks of May’s Chequers proposals: a common rulebook on goods and a customs arrangement to allow the UK frictionless trade and the power to strike its own free trade deals. |
| A senior EU official said the debate among the leaders would rather focus on whether it might be necessary for the political declaration to be vague in areas, and leave the arguments over the trading relationship until after Brexit, a so-called blind Brexit. | A senior EU official said the debate among the leaders would rather focus on whether it might be necessary for the political declaration to be vague in areas, and leave the arguments over the trading relationship until after Brexit, a so-called blind Brexit. |
| “I know that there are indeed two approaches: have a joint political declaration that is very much clear to the last point or to have a political declaration which, while recognising already an agreement on a number of issues, leaves a certain space for negotiations on a number of issues,” the official said. “I think at this stage this will be at the core of the debate in Salzburg. How detailed it will be.” | “I know that there are indeed two approaches: have a joint political declaration that is very much clear to the last point or to have a political declaration which, while recognising already an agreement on a number of issues, leaves a certain space for negotiations on a number of issues,” the official said. “I think at this stage this will be at the core of the debate in Salzburg. How detailed it will be.” |
| Raab said in his interview that a vague declaration would not, however, work for the UK. He said: “In the political statement, we must determine the direction in which we will move in the future. Otherwise it will be difficult to get the necessary support from our parliament and the citizens.” | Raab said in his interview that a vague declaration would not, however, work for the UK. He said: “In the political statement, we must determine the direction in which we will move in the future. Otherwise it will be difficult to get the necessary support from our parliament and the citizens.” |
| France is among the member states who want the terms of the future trading relationship clear to avoid ambiguity and prolonged internal and external negotiations after 29 March 2019. | France is among the member states who want the terms of the future trading relationship clear to avoid ambiguity and prolonged internal and external negotiations after 29 March 2019. |
| In a letter to the leaders ahead of the meeting, published on Tuesday, Tusk nevertheless warns that everything must be done to avoid a no-deal Brexit. | In a letter to the leaders ahead of the meeting, published on Tuesday, Tusk nevertheless warns that everything must be done to avoid a no-deal Brexit. |
| “With only six months to go before the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, we are entering the final weeks of negotiations,” Tusk writes. | “With only six months to go before the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, we are entering the final weeks of negotiations,” Tusk writes. |
| “Therefore, I want us to review progress in these talks and to discuss the way forward with three objectives in mind. First, we should reach a common view on the nature and overall shape of the joint political declaration about our future partnership with the UK. | “Therefore, I want us to review progress in these talks and to discuss the way forward with three objectives in mind. First, we should reach a common view on the nature and overall shape of the joint political declaration about our future partnership with the UK. |
| “Second, we will discuss how to organise the final phase of the Brexit talks, including the possibility of calling another European council in November. | “Second, we will discuss how to organise the final phase of the Brexit talks, including the possibility of calling another European council in November. |
| “Third, we should reconfirm the need for a legally operational backstop on Ireland, so as to be sure that there will be no hard border in the future. | |
| “Let me recall that limiting the damage caused by Brexit is our shared interest,” Tusk adds. “Unfortunately, a no-deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe.” | |
| Beyond the differences over the Chequers proposals, there is still an impasse over the issue of the backstop solution that would ensure that there would never be a hard border on the island of Ireland. | Beyond the differences over the Chequers proposals, there is still an impasse over the issue of the backstop solution that would ensure that there would never be a hard border on the island of Ireland. |
| Raab insisted in his interviews with papers including Spiegel and Le Monde that the EU’s proposal to in effect keep Northern Ireland in the single market and customs union remained unacceptable. | Raab insisted in his interviews with papers including Spiegel and Le Monde that the EU’s proposal to in effect keep Northern Ireland in the single market and customs union remained unacceptable. |
| “Under no circumstances will we allow a customs border to be pulled through the Irish Sea,” he said. “The territorial and economic integrity of Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK must be respected.” | “Under no circumstances will we allow a customs border to be pulled through the Irish Sea,” he said. “The territorial and economic integrity of Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK must be respected.” |
| He further repeated his warning that the UK would not pay its full £39bn divorce bill in the event of no-deal. | |
| “The agreement we made politically under the exit agreement would not be the sum we would pay in this case,” he said. “The pressure in this country would be too big to do that.” | “The agreement we made politically under the exit agreement would not be the sum we would pay in this case,” he said. “The pressure in this country would be too big to do that.” |
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