UK's Theresa May returns to face EU leaders after Brexit deal rebuff

British Prime Minister resa May returned to face EU leers on December 14 after y rebuffed her pleas for help to sell her Brexit plan back home and warned of growing threat of a " deal."

May h sought to persue her 27 colleagues she could overcome huge opposition to divorce deal among British MPs if y gave her some assurances over thorny problem of Irish border.

But y were t convinced, and European diplomats said May h been unable to explain what she wanted or how she could deliver a British parliamentary majority to endorse deal.

" signals we heard yesterday were t particularly reassuring on Britain's capacity to hour commitments that were me," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michael said.

"So we will make sure to prepare for all scenarios and prepare also for a deal scenario," he ded, as he arrived for second and final day of EU summit.

On December 13, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker repeated statements me all week by European leers that "re is room whatsoever for renegotiation" of deal.

May postponed a vote in House of Commons this week on Brexit deal to avoid a crushing defeat, but has promised it will take place next month, by January 21 at latest.

This is uncomfortably close to Britain's scheduled exit day on March 29, 2019 - and Juncker said he was stepping up preparations in case it leaves with deal in place.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz ded on December 14: "re is a withdrawal deal, and re is an urgent necessity to take decisions. We should avoid a deal scenario." 

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May did t speak as she arrived for summit, where she met with French President Emmanuel Macron before EU-wide discussions on migration, Russia and climate change.

She came to Brussels wounded by a confidence vote on December 12 night, which she won but in which 117 MPs - more than one-third of her Conservative party - voted to oust her.

Opposition to Brexit deal in Britain is focused on a so-called "backstop" arrangement designed to keep open border with Ireland if and until a new UK-EU tre deal is signed.

May is seeking "legal and political assurances" that this will t keep Britain trapped indefinitely in an EU customs union.

Several EU leers have talked of offering "clarifications" and "explanations", and a statement issued after y talked without May late December 13 emphasised y will try to ensure backstop is never triggered.

But, while an early draft of conclusions said EU "stands rey to examine wher any furr assurances can be provided" on backstop, this was removed from final version.

"Colleagues were so exasperated that she left with less than she could have got," a European source said.

May told EU leers y must help her "change perception that backstop could be a trap from which UK cant escape", according to a British official.

"With right assurances, this deal can be passed. Indeed it is only deal that is capable of getting through my parliament," she told m.

But European sources said room was tense, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and or leers repeatedly interrupting May to ask her what she wanted and how she could deliver it.

Ar source who h been in room told AFP on December 14 that May h contricted herself and failed to say how any assurances on backstop might work, to consternation of fellow leers.

On December 14, however, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on defended May, saying she "did a good job, she got best possible deal" despite being able to deliver her own party's lawmakers. " problem is MPs in London," he said.

" fact is for internal political reasons in UK some people try to gamble relation between EU and UK for future. And it's b." 

May has faced constant criticism to her Brexit strategy from hardline anti-Europeans in her party, while rrn Irish party which props up her government also opposes her deal.

y want backstop out of agreement entirely -- but Irish Prime Minister Leo Varkar once again emphasised need to have legal guarantees on keeping open Irish border.

"By resolving it in withdrawal agreement we can make sure side uses threat of a border in Ireland as part of lever in future relationship talks," he said.

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