European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told European lawmakers on Wednesday (January 31) that the bloc’s Brexit divorce deal with London was ‘the best and only’ one possible and could not be renegotiated.
Addressing the European Parliament’s plenary session in Brussels, Juncker said that the so-called ‘backstop’ was a priority for the European Union as Ireland’s border with Britain would become ‘EU’s border.’ The head of the EU executive said he was an optimist and believed an agreement with Britain remained possible.
The European Union would be willing to negotiate immediately if Britain changed its mind and opted for a closer relationship with the bloc after Brexit, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told MEPs at the same session.
