Theresa May, Britain's Prime Minister, met European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker on Wednesday evening in Brussels as she sought concessions on Brexit from a wary European Union. Three of Mr.s May's party lawyers criticized her strategy causing them to resign over Brexit.
Mr. Juncker is the head of the EuropeanUnion's executive arm. Minutes before the meeting, the nervous looking, Mr. Junker, joked to journalists that the Band-Aid visible on his cheek was not the prime minister's doing.
There was no announcement of further breakthroughs from the dinner meeting at the European Union Headquarters. However, a joint statement from the two leaders promised that their negotiating teams "would continue to explore the options in a positive spirit".
Prior to the meeting, Juncker said that he expected little to come from the meeting. He said that the second meeting could be considered a decent outcome if it turns out to be constructive. Theresa May said that they've made progress.
The Prime Minister and the European Commission President agreed to meet before the end of the month. The meeting is expected on or before the EU-Arab League summit in Egypt which will start on Sunday.
The Prime Minister has been persuading the European Union to revise the drafted agreement on Britain's withdrawal to the Union because it was not approved in the Parliament. The European Union, however, refused to reopen the 585-page legal document.
The joint statement said that the possible alternative arrangements were discussed during the meeting. They also tackled the changes to an accompanying political declaration as potential options. Brexit is scheduled on March 29.
According to the statement, negotiators will review progress again in the coming days, seized of the tight timescale and the historic significance of setting the EU and the U.K. on a path to a deep and unique future partnership.
Three of the prime minister's legislators resigned because of how she handles the Brexit negotiations. The legislators joint a new centrist group after their resignation. Brexit increased concerns of Britain leaving with no agreement on its departure or future relations with the European Union. The Brexit is expected to severe the economies of both sides. Rumors are also circulating that the prime minister's administration plans to delay its exit to wrap up negotiations.
According to May, time is of the essence and it's in both our interests that when the U.K. leaves the EU, it does so in an orderly way.
