European Union President Donald Tusk says that a Brexit deal by December is a “huge challenge” and has given UK Prime Minister Theresa May 10 days to improve her offer if she wants EU leaders to allow Brexit talks to move to the next phase.
Tusk issued the ultimatum on Friday on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels after sensitive discussions with the embattled UK premier about Britain’s exit from the EU.
The “absolute” deadline gives May until a meeting with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on December 4 to make sufficient progress on the key Brexit issues.
If May’s offer on critical withdrawal issues fails to make “significant progress,” EU leaders will refuse at their next summit on December 14 to unlock the next phase of the Brexit negotiations about a future trade deal and a transitional arrangement after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.
“Sufficient progress in Brexit talks at December EUCO (summit) is possible. But still a huge challenge,” Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, said on Twitter after his meeting with May.
“We need to see progress from UK within 10 days on all issues, including on Ireland,” he added.