‘It looks bad’ Key MEP warns ‘no deal’ chances RISING as Brexit deadline approaches

Danuta Hubner was asked by Sky News host Adam Boulton about the likelihood of the UK leaving the European Union without a Brexit deal.

Ms Hubner said that while EU was preparing for such an event,  she did not want to see a ‘no deal’ scenario. 

She said: “We are preparing, we have to be prepared for this.

“I understand on the UK side, on our side, with businesses and not only financial have to be prepared for such a scenario.

“Exactly we have to do everything so that we are prepared, but this scenario does not happen and we should do everything to avoid this. 

“Nobody would win if such a scenario becomes reality.”

The Sky News host then pressed the MEP if she thought a Brexit ‘no deal’ scenario was “likely”.

She added: “Well I am old enough to know that everything is likely but I know we are doing everything to avoid it.

“But, it looks bad now in the sense that we are having probably 12-14 weeks to negotiate the end.

“There are still a lot of very important, very difficult issues, the Irish issue is not solved, a lot of separation-related issues.

“Then there is this agreement on the future. We are waiting for the white paper. 

“So a lot to do in a short period of time, but I hope the sense of urgency is here and there and I hope we will find an agreement.”

The Prime Minister is currently in Brussels for the European Council summit which has been dominated with discussions about the EU’s migrant crisis.

Speaking at 5am after a mammoth 10 hours of negotiations at the EU summit, the Prime Minister said she wants to “accelerate and intensify” the UK’s ongoing Brexit talks.

Talking to journalists in Brussels, she said: “On Brexit I have been stressing we want a deal that works for the UK and our European partners and if we work together we can support each

others’ prosperity and security.

“EU leaders and the UK government were hoping that they would have completely agreed a deal by this November.

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“We are going to be publishing our White Paper shortly, and I want to see the negotiations accelerating and intensifying thereafter.

“The future security partnership with the EU will be very important, we currently enjoy a high level of cooperation with member states of the EU in a number of areas on security that are

important for our citizens – this is what is at stake.

“I want to see a strong and deep security partnership continuing with our EU partners. We’ll be setting that out in more detail in the White Paper we will publish shortly and I want to show

we can accelerate and intensify negotiations – I want to see that from the European Union and the European Commission as well.”

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has since warned “huge and serious divergence” remains in negotiations.

He said: “On Brexit, we have made progress, but huge and serious divergence remains on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“After Brexit, we want, the EU want an EU-UK ambitious partnership. On trade as well as on security.

”We have to base this partnership on our values and our principles, respecting also the UK’s red lines.

“That means for us, the integrity of the single market. Indivisibility of the four freedoms. Autonomy of the decision making of the EU and the protection of the fundamental rights of the EU

citizens. This point is key for our future cooperation on security.

“Now we are waiting for the UK white paper, and I hope it will contain workable and realistic proposals.

“But let me mention once again that the time is very short. We want a deal and are working for a deal, the time is short and I am ready to invite the UK delegation back in Brussels next

Monday.” 

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