Published 15:35 IST, October 17th 2019
Brexit: British PM Boris Johnson and EU confirm 'great new deal'
The Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson said that the leaders have got a “great new deal” for Brexit on October 17 and EU confirms the new agreement
The Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, announced a “great new deal” for Brexit on October 17. The 28-nation bloc of the European Union have converged for the EU summit on Thursday, October 17, where the main focus was Britain's impending divorce and subsequent exit from the EU. While a few hours ago, European Union leaders said that they were still awaiting the text on Brexit deal, PM Johnson's tweet came as a surprise. The British leader also believes, now that a great deal has taken back control, Parliament should get Brexit done on October 31 as planned to shift focus onto 'other priorities'.
EU confirms the new deal
The President of European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has also confirmed the presence of a new deal in a tweet. “Where there is a will, there is a deal,” he wrote. Juncker further also stated that the new agreement is “balanced and fair”. Considering the previous problems that clouded over the Brexit draft regarding the Backstop, Juncker said that the deal is a “testament” to the commitment of the UK and EU to “find a solution”.
EU's Juncker believes that the deal has been delivered by both parties and "it is better than no-deal" Brexit.
Juncker also says that throughout the negotiation, the UK and EU were fully committed to protect the peace, protect stability of the people. While addressing the issue of the border between UK's Northern Ireland and the Ireland, Juncker has said that they have decided to keep border open, preserve the all-island economy and protect the integrity of the single market. The European Union has also released a 64-page page "revised protocol" on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
It says, "The United Kingdom shall ensure that the Common Travel Area and the rights and privileges associated therewith can continue to apply without affecting the obligations of Ireland under Union law, in particular with respect to free movement to, from and within Ireland for Union citizens and their family members, irrespective of their nationality."
DUP rejects the new deal
The Democratic Unionist Party rejected the new deal just minutes after PM Johnson announced it. The DUP had withdrawn support from the Brexit deal which was also reportedly PM Johnson's key Northen Ireland ally, the plan to get an approval from the Parliament has become more unsure. The main obstacle to the Brexit deal still remains the border arrangement between UK's Northern Ireland and the remaining EU's Ireland. The Prime Minister of UK, Boris Johnson had said the negotiations will continue even after the Democratic Unionist Party denied to support the draft
Updated 16:11 IST, October 17th 2019