Tailor-made Brexit does not seem possible

British Prime Minister Theresa May's chief negotiator has warned her ministers that there is no possibility of a 'tailor-made Brexit' agreement with the European Union (EU). That reports Business Insider.

According to The Times British negotiator Oliver Robbins told May's cabinet on Friday 29 June that Brussels will maintain its tough stance on Brexit talks until the end.

2 choices
A minister said the cabinet faces a stark choice: a Norwegian-style Brexit or a Canadian-style Brexit. In the Norwegian variant, Great Britain would remain within the internal market, but must submit to European rules on which it has little influence. The Canadian variant consists of a limited free trade deal that fanatic Brexiteers will applaud, but has already met a lot of resistance from British business.

"I knew when I left the meeting that we were in even worse trouble than I thought," the minister, who wishes to remain anonymous, told The Times. "I was surprised that he admitted how bad we are. If I had to guess which direction we're going, I'd say Downing Street will choose the Norwegian model."

Little time left
The EU warns that the British are only very little time to close a Brexit deal. European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday that Britain has a "last chance" to come up with an acceptable proposal.

Prime Minister May is under enormous pressure to deliver a Brexit that will both ensure smooth trade and an open Irish border, while also meeting the demands of Brexiteers in her party for independence from the EU.

Tailor-made Brexit
Last week, a source told to Business Insider that a custom model will be rejected. In that model, the British would remain in the internal market only in terms of goods. "We will say no to that. Britain is not going to get that," the source told Business Insider. "We've been clear about protecting the integrity of the single market. The moment we give Britain access to the single market for goods only, that market starts to fall apart."

After last week's summit Barnier told journalists that there are still "huge and serious differences" between the positions of the EU and Britain, despite some minor progress. May is expected to soften her stance to break the current deadlock and avoid a potentially disastrous no-deal scenario.

Read more on Business Insider:
- There is very little time left to close a good Brexit deal
- When the dividend tax is abolished, the Netherlands will join these paradises
- Bomb under Brexit: Ireland warns Theresa May

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