EU Ambassadors have been summoned to a meeting about Brexit in Brussels amid silence from Britain's Attorney General and the EU's negotiator on the state of talks.
Geoffrey Cox, Britain's top law officer, and Michel Barnier held a new round of negotiations on the backstop before a dinner last night.
Neither side made any comment on the talks following the meeting, which comes just a week before MPs are due to vote again on the Brexit deal.
The calling of a meeting on Article 50 will raise some hopes of progress in the deadlocked talks - but it could end up being a routine update.
Ministers were warned yesterday they face a watered-down Brexit if the talks fail and the Prime Minister's deal is blocked in the Commons for a second time.
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier greeted each other in Brussels today amid continued stalemate with just 23 days until Brexit
EU Ambassadors have been summoned to a meeting about Brexit in Brussels amid silence from Britain's Attorney General and the EU's negotiator on the state of talks. Geoffrey Cox is pictured left with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay before the pair travelled to Brussels
If there is an agreement on new guarantees about the backstop, Theresa May (pictured last night at No 10) could travel to Brussels on Sunday to sign off on the plans
Geoffrey Cox, Britain's top law officer, and Michel Barnier (pictured today in Brussels) held a new round of negotiations on the backstop before a dinner last night
If there is an agreement on new guarantees about the backstop, Theresa May could travel to Brussels on Sunday to sign off on the plans.
MPs are then due to vote on whether they go far enough on Tuesday. If they reject the deal, a no deal vote will be held on Wednesday before a delay vote on Wednesday.
Amid radio silence in Brussels, one source told Politico the lack of any comment means 'either that things went very badly, or that they are back in the ''tunnel''' and close to a deal.
The Prime Minister told Cabinet yesterday Mr Cox and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay were continuing to seek 'legally binding changes to the backstop that will allow MPs to support the meaningful vote'.
Last night, the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales joined together to tell the Prime Minister her 'reckless' behaviour over Brexit 'must stop now'.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford spoke out after politicians in Edinburgh and Cardiff took a 'united and historic step' to vote against both Mrs May's withdrawal deal and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last night blasted the PM's 'reckless' behaviour over Brexit and warned she 'must stop now'
Mrs May's hopes of winning over Tory Eurosceptics hinge on Mr Cox being able to change his legal advice about the indefinite nature of the backstop, which is intended to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland in the absence of a future free trade agreement.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron signalled that he would firmly resist any measure that might diminish the security and integrity of the EU's external border and internal market.
He also accused Brexiteers of lying about the consequences of leaving the EU and suggested Britain would end up being part of a reformed Europe in the future.
And European Council president Donald Tusk suggested that 'external anti-European forces' had tried to subvert the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels with the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, Mr Tusk said he backed Mr Macron's initiative, adding: 'There are external anti-European forces, which are seeking - openly or secretly - to influence the democratic choices of Europeans, as was the case with Brexit and a number of election campaigns across Europe.
'And it may again be the case with the European elections in May.'
Theresa May could return to Brussels for further talks with Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured at the EU headquarters today) this weekend amid the final countdown to Brexit
Ministers were warned yesterday they face a watered-down Brexit if the Prime Minister's deal is blocked in the Commons.
Chief Whip Julian Smith told the Cabinet that MPs will take the opportunity to seize control and push the UK into a permanent customs union.
Mrs May has repeatedly warned that such an arrangement would prevent Britain from striking trade deals around the world.
But Mr Smith said the PM could be forced against her will into a softer Brexit if Tory rebels fail to get behind her Withdrawal Agreement next week.
According to a Cabinet source, he warned ministers: 'If the vote does not go through next week that means delay and a customs union.
'Parliament will try to force the Government into a customs union by taking control of the order paper and having indicative votes. So the choice is the Prime Minister's deal or a customs union.'
Chief Whip Julian Smith said the PM could be forced against her will into a softer Brexit if Tory rebels fail to get behind her Withdrawal Agreement next week
MPs have been promised a second 'meaningful vote' on the Brexit deal on Tuesday or earlier.
If Mrs May's deal is not passed, there will be a vote on leaving the EU without a deal on Wednesday, with a further ballot on whether to delay Brexit beyond the scheduled date of March 29 the following day.
A senior minister yesterday warned that even if the Withdrawal Agreement is passed next week, a delay to Brexit is now 'inevitable' because there will not be enough time to pass all the legislation required.
The politician warned the EU could potentially demand the £39billion divorce bill is paid upfront as a condition for agreeing an extension.
The minister added: 'It's inevitable there would have to be a technical extension of a couple of months. A month probably wouldn't be enough to get the legislation through. That is accepted in government, there is no way around it.'
Such an extension, which would need to be agreed by all 27 remaining member states, could involve EU countries 'attaching conditions' on issues such as the status of Gibraltar, or demanding a lump sum of cash in return.
The Cabinet source added: 'They could ask for the whole £39billion upfront for the transition period.
'Imagine how that would go down in the Tory Party. If the ERG [the European Research Group of Eurosceptic MPs] don't vote for this deal, they risk it all slipping away.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/06/eu-ambassadors-summoned-to-a-meeting-in-brussels-amid-silence-from-attorney-general-geoffrey-cox/
Main photo article EU Ambassadors have been summoned to a meeting about Brexit in Brussels amid silence from Britain’s Attorney General and the EU’s negotiator on the state of talks.
Geoffrey Cox, Britain’s top law officer, and Michel Barnier held a new round of negotiations on the backstop...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/06/09/10641120-6776723-image-a-29_1551864855974.jpg
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