The blueprint would pinpoint the problem areas and commit to breaching the technical gaps where possible to offer an alternative to the customs union envisaged in the withdrawal agreement’s Irish backstop. On Thursday the German finance commissioner, Günther Hermann Oettinger, suggested the chance of a no-deal Brexit was now as high as 60%. Facing criticism from May, Tusk defended his remarks that “there was a special place in hell” for politicians who campaigned for Brexit without a plan. The No 10 official played down speculation that this could be the next key Brexit date. It’s an EU-Arab summit, primarily.”During her day in Brussels, May also met the European parliament’s president, Antonio Tajani, and the chamber’s Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt.

Source: The Guardian February 07, 2019 13:06 UTC