EU pushes for October Brexit agreement, but threatens no deal
Theresa May stands by ‘Chequers’ proposals for trade with the bloc that will also resolve issues on the border of Northern Ireland
Salzburg — European Union leaders will push for a Brexit deal in October but warned British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday that if she would not give ground on trade and the Irish border by November, they were ready to cope with talks collapsing. ″Don’t worry, be happy,″ joked EU CEO Jean-Claude Juncker after telling reporters at a summit in Austria that the Europeans had full plans in place in the event there was no deal before Britain leaves in March. May promised new proposals to reassure Dublin that it would not end up with a "hard border" with the British province of Northern Ireland but warned that she too could live with a no-deal outcome — though many around the summit in Salzburg do not believe that that is a credible threat. She said her ″Chequers″ proposals for trade with the EU, intended also to resolve arguments on the border of Northern Ireland, were the only way forward. EU leaders repeated their view the plans would undermine their cherished single market.
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