London – Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker offering what he calls a “reasonable compromise” for amending Britain’s Brexit deal.
Johnson’s letter to Juncker says he wants to replace the agreed “backstop,” which is designed to guarantee an open Irish border, with alternative customs arrangements.
He says both sides “now need to consider whether there is sufficient willingness to compromise” to secure a deal by Oct. 31, when Johnson has insisted Britain will leave the bloc with or without a deal.
Britain’s proposals deal “pragmatically” with the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland, which will leave the EU with the rest of the UK, and EU member state Ireland, Johnson says.
“I hope that these proposals can now provide the basis for rapid negotiations towards a solution,” he tells Juncker.
Johnson told Conservative party delegates earlier on Wednesday that Britain had made “constructive and reasonable proposals” for an agreement to withdraw from the EU on Oct. 31 but would leave on that date “come what may”.
“If we fail to get an agreement… then let us be in no doubt, the alternative is no deal.
“It is an outcome for which we are ready.
“Are we ready for it? Yes, we are,” Johnson told the delegates.
(dpa/NAN)
