Merkel: EU, UK can find a Brexit solution

By Ayhan Simsek</p> <p>BERLIN (AA) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed optimism Thursday about finding a diplomatic solution for the U.K.’s exit from the European Union. </p> <p>“I believe that one can find a solution without reopening the Withdrawal Agreement,” Merkel said in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, ahead of her talks with the leaders of Visegrad Four countries. </p> <p>Merkel stressed that renegotiation of the Brexit agreement, which was approved by Brussels and London in November, was “not on the agenda”. </p> <p>British Prime Minister Theresa May is going to visit Brussels on Thursday to convince the EU for “alternative arrangements” to replace the contentious Irish backstop arrangement within the Brexit agreement. </p> <p>May’s EU withdrawal deal was overwhelmingly rejected last month by British lawmakers who insisted that Brussels should replace the Irish border arrangement. </p> <p>The U.K. is set to leave the EU on Friday, March 29, unless the date is postponed.