LONDON – British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday the EuropeanUnion’s abrupt dismissal this week of her Brexit plan was unacceptable, asshe conceded negotiations were “at an impasse”.
“It is not acceptable to simply reject the other side’s proposal without adetailed explanation and counter-proposals,” May said in a televisedstatement from Downing Street.
“We now need to hear from the EU what the real issues are and what theiralternative is so that we can discuss them.
“Until we do, we cannot make progress.”
European leaders refused to give ground to May at a summit in Salzburg onThursday, warning that her proposals for future economic ties based on aUK-EU free-trade area only for goods would “not work”.
They also put on ice a special summit suggested for mid-November to seal adeal, saying it would only happen if there was real progress at the next EUgathering in October.
May said Friday that Britain would set out alternative plans dealing withthe thorny issue of the Irish border, “that preserves the integrity of theUK”.
“In the meantime, we must and will continue the work of preparing ourselvesfor no deal”.
The British pound, already down Friday against the dollar and the euro,fell sharply following May’s comments. – APP/AFP