EU Leaders Approve ‘Best Possible’ Brexit Deal

The deal on the table, the product of a year and a half of complex and sometimes fractious negotiations, was “the best possible” and the EU “will not change its fundamental position,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said, arriving at the European Council meeting Sunday, Plitico reported.

“I do think that the British parliament, because this is a wise parliament, will ratify this deal,” he added.

The British and European parliaments must ratify the deal — a 585-page legally-binding Withdrawal Agreement, and a 26-page Political Declaration setting the outline of the future relationship — before it can come into force. British MPs are expected to vote in the second week of December.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May, facing a rebellion from MPs in her own party, is yet to command a parliamentary majority in support of the deal. The growing likelihood of a no vote has led to speculation that May could be forced back to the negotiating table.

EU leaders echoed Juncker’s insistence that the deal could not be revisited.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said of the deal “it will certainly not be renegotiated and there is no leeway.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the agreement represented “the max” that negotiators can achieve, as he appealed to British MPs to ratify the deal.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven offered the possibility an extension to the Article 50 process and tweaks to the deal text, but ruled out “major negotiations” in the event of a no vote in the UK parliament

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