Yahoo Finance EU politicians dismiss ‘almost insane’ idea of renegotiating Brexit deal
European politicians have given a final strongly-worded warning to British MPs preparing to vote against the Brexit deal, with one branding the belief it could be renegotiated almost “insane.”
Both Conservative and Labour MPs are coming in for harsh criticism on the continent for opposing the deal negotiated over the last 18 months.
With opponents on both sides of the Commons, it’s widely expected the deal will be rejected next Tuesday by MPs motivated by the hope of a securing better terms.
But suggestions of any renegotiations are being brutally dismissed on the EU side.
“I found this idea of renegotiating the deal quite strange, not to say on the verge of being insane,” Swedish liberal MEP Jasenko Selimovic told Euronews.
READ MORE: Barnier hits back at claim Brexit deal is a ‘humiliation’ for the UK
“They’ve been negotiating for two years and they got the deal. This is the deal. Now they want another two years to negotiate? And then what? Then they will have another say? This is the deal that is done.”
Selimovic suggested that Theresa May would have to put the deal to a referendum if it is rejected by MPs.
“That’s up to them to decide,” he added. “But having an idea to change this deal after two years of negotiation is kind of strange to me.”
Separately, French MEP Philippe Juvin accused Conservative MPs of acting like children.
“They put conditions on everything and are continuing to ask, a bit like a child in front of father Christmas, things that they know are impossible to implement,” he told French TV.
Urging French voters to turn away from populist parties, he said: “Look at what’s happening to the British – they are in the process of suicide and I don’t what that for my country.”
Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts, a member of the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group, said: “A renegotiation of this deal can’t take place simply because it’s the only deal that respects the red lines of the British government and the red lines of the EU.”
He said a general election wouldn’t change that, branding Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn a “hard Brexiteer and wants to leave the European Union.”
“The most logical thing to do is to ask the people now that they know what Brexit means,” Lamberts added.
A spokesperson for the Conservative’s group in the European parliament told Yahoo Finance UK: “An orderly Brexit is in everybody’s interests so I would say if it [the vote] does go the way we don’t want it to go I imagine we would need, or would encourage, both sides to show a bit of flexibility and resolve any issues that come up.”
Whether or not fresh talks are possible will become clear when EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier responds to the result of ‘meaningful vote’ in a speech to the European parliament next Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: EU leaders to hold crisis talks within 48 hours if Brexit deal is rejected
The French politician said on Thursday that the deal on the table is the “only and best possible.” But the commission’s chief spokesperson has said that Barnier remains available for talks.
However, sources say changes could be made only to the 26-page political declaration on the future relationship rather than the 585-page withdrawal agreement.
European leaders are set to hold crisis talks on Thursday if the Brexit deal is voted down.
The likes of German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron are coming to Brussels for a European summit.
Brexit is not currently on the agenda but one senior EU source said: “Few of us have doubts that it won’t end up on it.”
READ MORE: Barnier remains available 24/7 for talks even though Brexit deal agreed
