Brexit deal not open for re-negotiation: EU

By Yusuf Hatip</p> <p>BRUSSELS (AA) – Despite Britain seeking to re-discuss the deal, the agreement reached for its withdrawal from the European Union is not open for re-negotiation, the European Council president said on Tuesday.</p> <p>&quot;The withdrawal agreement is and remains the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the U.K. from the European Union,&quot; Donald Tusk said in a statement through his spokesman Preben Aamann.</p> <p>“The backstop is part of the withdrawal agreement, and the withdrawal agreement is not open for re-negotiation,” he added, referring to the measure to avoid a hard Irish border.</p> <p>Late Tuesday Britain’s Parliament gave Prime Minister Theresa May a mandate to negotiate “alternative arrangements” with the European Union to avoid a hard border.</p> <p>Tusk said the EU welcomes and shares Parliament's ambition to avoid a &quot;no-deal scenario,&quot; adding: &quot;We continue to urge the U.K. Government to clarify its intentions with respect to its next steps as soon as possible.&quot;</p> <p>He said an extension of Article 50 — the part of the EU treaty under which Britain is leaving — could be considered.</p> <p>He also said the EU will continue its preparations for all outcomes, including a no-deal scenario. &quot;We will also continue the EU’s process of ratification of the agreement reached with the U.K. Government.&quot;</p> <p> </p> <p>- Parliament vote</p> <p>On Tuesday an amendment for Britain to seek “alternative arrangements” with the European Union passed parliament by a vote of 317-301.</p> <p>May said in a statement afterwards that there is a route that can get a “substantial and sustainable majority in this House for leaving the EU with a deal”.</p> <p>The amendment “requires the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border, supports leaving the EU with a deal and would therefore support the withdrawal agreement subject to this change”.</p> <p>British voters decided to leave the EU after the country’s more than 40-year membership in a 2016 referendum.</p> <p>The U.K. is set to leave the EU on March 29, less than two months away.</p> <p> </p> <p>