British Prime Minister Theresa May stands behind a draft Brexit deal reached last week with the EU. EU officials view the deal as the only viable option, but rebels in May's Conservative party may yet scupper the deal.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Leal-Olivas
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British Prime Minister Theresa May stood behind her Brexit draft deal on Monday during a speech to British business leaders, defying rebels within the Conservative party as she prepares for a tough week of talks with European officials.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the UK's main business association, May said she expects to finalize the final details and reach an agreement on the divorce deal with the EU this week.
"I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship and I am confident that we can strike a deal at the council that I can take back to the House of Commons," May will say according to excerpts of the speech released by Downing Street.
Theresa May: 'Once we've left the EU, we'll be fully in control of who comes here'
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She also reiterated support for the agreement she reached with the EU, saying it will be able to deliver a good outcome for the British people – which May says include control over the country's borders, money and laws.
EU: Deal 'fair and balanced'
The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Monday that the deal is "fair and balanced" and that EU member states generally approve of the deal.
"I am pleased that ministers today support the overall package," Barnier said at a press conference after a briefing with 27 national EU ministers. "We are in fact at a decisive moment in this process, no one should lose sight of the progress that has been achieved in Brussels and in London."
Who's who in Brexit?
Britain is leaving the European Union, but who exactly is directing the drama? DW takes a look at the people involved in the messy divorce.
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Britain's embattled skipper: Theresa May
May became prime minister after David Cameron resigned from the post in the wake of the Brexit referendum vote in June 2016. Despite her position, she has struggled to define what kind of Brexit her government wants. Hardliners within her Conservative party want her to push for a clean break. Others want Britain to stay close to the bloc. The EU itself has rejected many of May's Brexit demands.
The leader of the British Labour Party has no formal role in the Brexit talks, but he is influential as the head of the main opposition party. Labour has tried to pressure the Conservative government, which has a thin majority in Parliament, to seek a "softer" Brexit. But Corbyn's own advocacy has been lukewarm. The long-time leftist voted for the UK to leave the European Community (EC) in 1975.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/A. Chown
Britain's boisterous Brexiteer: Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson's turbulent two years as UK foreign secretary came to an abrupt end with his resignation on July 9. The conservative had been a key face for the Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum campaign. Johnson disapproves of the "soft Brexit" sought by PM May, arguing that a complete break from the EU might be preferable. He became the second Cabinet member within 24 hours to quit...
Image: picture alliance/AP Images/M. Turner
Britain's cheery ex-delegate: David Davis
David Davis headed Britain's Department for Exiting the EU and was the country's chief negotiator in the talks before he quit on July 8, less than 24 hours before Downing Street announced Boris Johnson's departure. Davis had long opposed Britain's EU membership and was picked for the role for this reason. Davis was involved in several negotiating rounds with his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/V: Mayo
Britain's former Brexit secretary: Dominic Raab
Raab replaced Davis in early July 2018. But he only lasted four months, resigning a day after Theresa May presented a draft withdrawal plan to her cabinet. Raab previously worked for a Palestinian negotiator in the Oslo peace process and as an international lawyer in Brussels advising on European Union and World Trade Organization law.
Jeremy Hunt was Britain's Health Secretary until he replaced Boris Johnson as foreign secretary in early July 2018. The 51-year-old supported Britain remaining in the European Union during the 2016 referendum, but said in late 2017 that he had changed his mind in response to the "the arrogance of the EU Commission" during Brexit talks. He has vowed to help get Britain a "great Brexit deal."
Image: picture-alliance/Photoshot
Britain's firebrand: Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage was the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) until July 2016. Under his stewardship, the party helped pressure former Prime Minister David Cameron into calling the EU referendum. He was also a prominent activist in the Leave campaign in the lead-up to the vote. Farage still has some influence over Brexit talks due to his popularity with pro-Leave voters.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Florin
Brexit's banker: Arron Banks
Businessman Arron Banks is a friend of Nigel Farage, and donated a significant sum to the former UKIP leader's Leave.EU campaign – making him the group's biggest financial backer. He had several meetings with Russian officials ahead of the referendum, but has denied allegations of collusion with Moscow in the Brexit vote, branding the claims a "political witch hunt."
Image: Getty Images/J. Taylor
Europe's honchos: Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk
EU Commission President Juncker (left) and EU Council President Tusk (right) share two of the bloc's highest posts. Juncker heads the EU's executive. Tusk represents the governments of the 27 EU countries — the "EU 27." Both help formulate the EU's position in Brexit negotiations. What Tusk says is particularly noteworthy: His EU 27 masters — not the EU commission — must agree to any Brexit deal.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/G. Vanden
Europe's steely diplomat: Michel Barnier
The former French foreign minister and European commissioner has become a household name across the EU since his appointment as the bloc's chief Brexit negotiator in October 2016. Despite his prominence, Barnier has limited room to maneuver. He is tasked with following the EU 27's strict guidelines and must regularly report back to them during the negotiations.
Image: Reuters/Y. Herman
Ireland's uneasy watchman: Leo Varadkar
The Irish PM has been one of the most important EU 27 leaders in Brexit talks. Britain has said it will leave the EU's customs union and single market. That could force the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, to put up customs checks along the border with Northern Ireland, a British province. But Varadkar's government has repeatedly said the return of a "hard" border is unacceptable.
Image: picture-alliance/empics/B. Lawless/PA Wire
Europe's power-brokers: the EU 27
The leaders of the EU 27 governments have primarily set the EU's negotiating position. They have agreed to the negotiating guidelines for chief negotiator Barnier and have helped craft the common EU position for Tusk and Juncker to stick to. The individual EU 27 governments can also influence the shape of any Brexit outcome because they must unanimously agree to a final deal.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Macdougal
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In her speech to the CBI, May will specifically address migration, a topic felt strongly by businesses who fear a lack of workers and a skills gap after Brexit.
The prime minister will promise that "more streamlined application processes" will be introduced to "attract the brightest and best from around the world."
But with a substantial difference. "Once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here," according to Downing Street.
A turbulent few days for May
May's speech to the CBI comes after a turbulent week in British politics, after her draft deal was strongly criticized by dissenters within her own party and triggered the resignation of several Ministers.
For such a vote to take place, 48 Conservative lawmakers must submit a letter requesting it.
The Sun newspaper wrote the rebels were six letters short, but one of those calling for May's resignation told the paper Monday might bring some new developments.
An important week of talks ahead
A feverish week of talks awaits May in Brussels, ahead of a special European Council summit planned for Sunday, November 25.
The deal lays out the terms of Britain's departure from the EU, scheduled for March 29, 2019, but both sides still have to ratify the agreement.
The UK Prime Minister will work with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to try to finalize the details.
Do Brits still want Brexit?
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Ahead of Sunday's summit, European Affairs ministers from the EU's member states met on Monday to discuss the divorce papers, with several officials saying the agreed text was not up for negotiations.
Heiko Maas, Germany's foreign minister, tweeted on Monday that the draft deal currently on the table is "a good compromise" to which "both sides have contributed."
"I hope that now everyone will act responsibly. The consequences of an unregulated Brexit are incalculable. Nobody can have an interest in that," Maas wrote.
Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told ZDF television that the EU has already accommodated the UK on many issues, and that the agreed-upon withdrawal agreement is fair to both sides.
"It won't be easier if people try now to renegotiate a lot of things – we should stand by what was achieved laboriously in more than a year," Altmaier said.
