Michel Barnier: Brussels Has no Intention of Renegotiating the Deal For Brexit

Michel Barnier has warned Theresa May that the withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation despite hints from the EU's most senior civil servant suggesting otherwise, writes express.co.uk

Mr Barnier sent the warning during a visit to the Netherlands to meet Mark Rutte while Martin Selmayr, the European Commission's secretary-general, entertained travelling MPs in Brussels. In a sign of growing power struggle over the Brexit negotiations in Brussels, the two EU officials demonstrated significantly contrasting positions after separate meetings. According to members of the House of Commons Exiting the EU Committee, Mr Selmayr introduced the possibility of reopening the withdrawal agreement to include a legally binding assurance that reaffirms the temporary nature of the Irish backstop.

But a resolute Mr Barnier held firm on his line and refused to reopen the deal agreed between Mrs May and EU27 leaders at a special Brussels summit in November last year.

After meeting with Mr Rutte, the French negotiator insisted there was "full agreement the the withdrawal agreement cannot be reopened".

He added that the current backstop is the "only operational solution to address Irish border issue today" and that Brussels is ready to work on alternative solutions during the transition" period.

Mr Rutte shared a similar message. He said: "The withdrawal agreement remains the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.

"We continue to urge the UK Government to clarify its intentions with respect to its next steps."

But in Brussels, the visiting MPs claimed they were told that Brussels is ready to reopen the withdrawal agreement in order to "copy and paste" assurances from Jean...