Facing Brexit's dead ends

British Prime Minister Theresa May, her counterparts from the other 27 European Union member-states and the presidents of EU institutions have been discussing the "political" aspects of Brexit since Thursday.

Several leaders made it clear from the start that they would not accept any change to the agreement reached between Britain and Brussels. "But we are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification. As time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no-deal scenario," said Donald Tusk, president of the European Council. What we expect on Friday is to see how this "facilitation" will cut the Gordian knot that is Brexit.

May is up against the "intransigence" of her "partners" (to put it in terms reminiscent of Greece's troubles with the European Union), who are prepared to help only with regard to how she will sell the deal to her party's MPs.

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