Irish PM says EU must be open to long extension of Brexit

Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-30 06:02:18|Editor: yan
Video PlayerClose

DUBLIN, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday that the European Union (EU) must be open to a long extension of Brexit if Britain decides to "fundamentally reconsider its approach to Brexit and put back on the table options previously ruled out".

"I believe that will result in a generous and understanding response from the 27," said the prime minister.

The 27 he mentioned here refers to the remaining 27 member states of the EU if Britain eventually leaves the bloc.

Varadkar's remarks came after the House of Commons, the lower house of the British parliament, once again rejected the Withdrawal Agreement reached between the British government led by Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU in a Friday vote.

In a statement, Varadkar said "It is now up to the UK to indicate how it plans to proceed in order to avoid a NO Deal scenario."

He reiterated the unanimous position of the EU that the Withdrawal Agreement will not be re-opened.

"Ireland has been preparing intensively for a No Deal scenario. But no one should under-estimate the difficulties that a No Deal will present, for all of us, including the UK. It is not clear that the UK has fully understood that NO Deal is not off the agenda. Rather, it's a growing possibility," he said.

He urged Britain to "chart a realistic way forward for consideration" at a meeting of the European Council called by its President Donald Tusk on April 10.

In the statement, Varadkar said that prior to the European Council meeting he will meet one-to-one with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and he will also speak to other heads of government of the EU members by phone.

Earlier in the day, a government press office statement said that Varadkar will meet Macron in Paris next Tuesday and Merkel in Dublin next Thursday.

"Discussions in both meetings will focus on current EU issues in particular latest developments on Brexit," said the statement.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105521379350701
国产无码在线观看免费在线,37pao国产成视频,日韩一区二区视频在线,国产国产人免费人成免费视频麻豆
亚洲日本精品中文字幕久久 | 亚洲中文色欧另类欧美 | 亚洲日韩乱码中文字幕综合 | 理论片第一页一区二区 | 在线视频不卡欧美 | 中文字幕中文有码在线 |