It's the only deal possible, EU's Barnier tells Brexit Britain

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The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told Britain on Thursday the Brexit deal the bloc agreed with British Prime Minister Theresa May was the only one possible.

Barnier was speaking to a nearly-empty EU parliament chamber as the bloc awaits the verdict from London where May is trying to sell the deal to her divided parliament, which will vote on it on December 11. The EU insists the Brexit accord sealed after 18 months of talks will not be renegotiated.

"Given the high degree of complexity of all the issues surrounding the UK's withdrawal, the orderly withdrawal treaty that is on the table is the only deal possible," Barnier said, adding that "This is now the moment of ratification."

The Bank of England said on Wednesday that Britain risked suffering an even bigger hit to its economy than during the global financial crisis 10 years ago if it left the EU without a deal in four months' time.

"It's not a question of winners and losers because Brexit is a lose-lose. There is no added value," Barnier said.

"I am convinced we will be able to work together for a real and unprecedented partnership," he said of Britain's future relationship with the EU, talks on which will start after Brexit day on March 29, 2019.

During the EU parliamentary debate on Thursday, Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage said May's deal would be voted down in the British parliament as "the worst deal in history."

Barnier received much praise from EU lawmakers on Thursday for his handling of the Brexit negotiations, a sentiment shared in many EU quarters, beefing the Frenchman's chances should he run for the top job in the bloc next year.

British Prime Minister Theresa May answers questions about her Brexit agenda at a parliamentary liaison committee meeting in London, November 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

May said on Thursday that any decision to extend the Brexit negotiating period would reopen the exit deal, adding that she would not seek an extension.

"What's clear is that any extension to Article 50, anything like that, reopens the negotiations, reopens the deal and at that point, the deal could go, frankly, in any direction," May told a parliamentary committee.

She added that the "confidence and supply" voting agreement with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party remained in place and her government has discussed the concerns of the DUP over her Brexit deal with the EU.

The DUP has said it will not back May in a parliament vote on the deal on December 11.

(Cover photo: Chief EU negotiator for Brexit Michel Barnier talks during a plenary session on Article 50 negotiations with the UK at the European Parliament in Brussels, November 29, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters