May: 'Robust' but 'constructive' talks with EU
(7 Feb 2019) British Prime Minister Theresa May vowed that she will deliver the UK departure from the European Union on time following another session of talks with EU leaders. Despite fundamental differences over whether the draft withdrawal agreement May negotiated with the EU should be changed to address strong objections by British lawmakers, May pledged to achieve an orderly withdrawal by the March 29 deadline. May said Thursday in Brussels: "It is not going to be easy." "I'll be negotiating hard in the coming days to do just that," she said. "I am clear that I am going to deliver Brexit. I am going to deliver it on time." She was speaking after what she called "robust" but "constructive" talks with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and said they have agreed to hold more negotiations that could push the sealing of any deal to within a month of Britain's scheduled departure. The two leaders agreed to meet for more talks "before the end of February to take stock of these discussions," a joint statement said. Two years ago, May set Brexit day as March 29 and originally plans were to have a deal in place six months ahead of time. May also referred to comments by European Council President Donald Tusk, who exacerbated the frosty climate on Wednesday by wondering aloud what "special place in hell" might be reserved for those who backed Brexit with no idea of how to deliver it. "I've raised with President Tusk the language that he used yesterday which was not helpful and caused widespread dismay in the United Kingdom," she said. "The point I made to him is that we should both be working to ensure that we can deliver a close relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union in the future. And that's what he should be focusing on." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
