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EU tells Britain ‘further work’ needed as Johnson addresses lawmakers

The European Commission said it is prepared to “constructively engage” with Britain’s new proposal to tweak the withdrawal agreement with the European Union (EU), as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pitched his plans to lawmakers in the House of Commons.

Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said on Thursday in Brussels that it was up to Britain to do the further work needed “and not the other way round”,  though Johnson has implied that the next move was up to the EU.

According to the spokeswoman it is London that is leaving the EU.

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“We are not going to be the ones left holding the bag, the ball or any other kind of object,” Bertaud said.

London put forward its hotly anticipated proposal for an alternative to the backstop – the clause in the current withdrawal agreement designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland – on Wednesday, which Brussels says it is now scrutinising.

Speaking in parliament on Thursday, Johnson said “we have shown great flexibility in the interests of reaching an accommodation with our European friends.”

The outgoing president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, is to speak on the phone to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar later on Thursday. (NAN)

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