Juncker’s aide ‘The Monster’ says Brussels will NOT give legal guarantees on the backstop in fresh blow to May – but Merkel insists Northern Ireland border ‘riddle’ CAN be solved by ‘compromise’
The EU commissions top official Martin Selmayr
A top aide to Jean-Claude Juncker warned today the EU would not give the legal guarantees on the Irish border backstop demanded by Brexiteers.
The EU commission’s top official Martin Selmayr – whose nickname in Brussels is ‘The Monster’ – also delivered a thinly-veiled threat by boasting that Brussels had ‘done well’ to start its no deal preparations in December 2017.
But in a sign of possible splits, Angela Merkel insisted the ‘riddle’ of the Irish border could be solved by compromise on both sides.
The German Chancellor said she was determined to do ‘everything’ to avoid the UK crashing out, saying it could be done if ‘everyone shows goodwill’.
The latest signals from the EU came as it emerged the PM will deliver a speech in Northern Ireland tomorrow as she scrambles to find a way through the standoff.
Mrs May will underline her ‘absolute commitment’ to avoiding a hard Irish border during the visit, according to aides.
The premier has also invited rebels from both Conservative wings to join discussions on how to handle the UK’s departure from the EU – which is now less than eight weeks away.
But Cabinet ministers have voiced fears that there is ‘nothing she can get’ that will satisfy the hardline Brexiteers. One told MailOnline they seemed intent on forcing no deal, warning: ‘She could get the backstop removed and even that wouldn’t be enough. They would just find some other excuse.’
Speaking alongside Japanese PM Shinzo Abe today, Mrs Merkel said ‘we want to do everything to avoid a no deal because that would increase the uncertainty’.
But she reiterated that the Withdrawal Agreement had been painstakingly negotiated and could not be reopened.
