Paris Says ‘No Renegotiation’ Of Brexit Deal

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has warned that there will be “no renegotiation” of the Brexit deal concluded between the European Union and Britain.

He told the French National Assembly on Wednesday as British Prime Minister Theresa May fights to sell the deal to the British parliament.

“There will be no renegotiation. There were long negotiations lasting several months that ended with a text agreed by both parties, which was to have been submitted yesterday to the British parliament, and which the British prime minister decided to hold back because of lack of support,” Le Drian said.

The key stumbling block is the so-called “backstop” which aims to avoid the return of a “hard border” between the two Irelands, he added.

May is to meet Thursday in Brussels with leaders of the 27 remaining EU leaders to discuss the deal, “but there will be no renegotiation” of the deal, Le Drian said.