Jean-Claude Juncker and Theresa May had a “robust but constructive” discussion in Brussels which laid out their respective position but appears to have achieved little progress towards an agreement, according to a joint statement published after their meeting.
The British prime minister is in Brussels for talks with EU officials. With the Commission president, she “raised various options for dealing with … concerns” in the British parliament following last week’s vote, the statement reads.
During the meeting, the Commission president reiterated that the EU will not reopen the agreed Withdrawal Agreement, which represents, read the statement, a “carefully balanced compromise between the European Union and the UK, in which both sides have made significant concessions to arrive at a deal.”
Juncker did, however, express “his openness to add wording to the Political Declaration agreed by the EU27 and the UK in order to be more ambitious in terms of content and speed when it comes to the future relationship between the European Union and the UK.”
The two leaders agreed to meet again before the end of February “to take stock” of the progress. In the meantime their team will hold talks to discuss “whether a way through can be found that would gain the broadest possible support in the UK Parliament and respect the guidelines agreed by the European Council.”
May will also meet Thursday with Parliament President Antonio Tajani, the Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt and Council President Donald Tusk.
Juncker’s spokesperson told a press conference U.K. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier are set to meet next week in Strasbourg.