Brexit deal is not open for renegotiation: EU warns U.K.

Tusk reaffirms stance as Tory leadership battle unfolds

European Council president Donald Tusk.

The European Union (EU)’s top leaders on Friday fired a Brexit warning to whoever wins the battle to become the next British Prime Minister, saying the existing divorce deal could not be changed.

Boris Johnson will face Jeremy Hunt in a run-off vote to decide who takes on the tricky task of piloting the country’s departure from the EU. Both say they want to renegotiate the deal that outgoing PM Theresa May struck with Brussels.

‘Nothing has changed’

European Council President Donald Tusk said the bloc would remain “very precise and also patient” despite the high political drama unfolding in Westminster.

“Maybe the process of Brexit will be even more exciting than before because of some personal decisions in London but nothing has changed when it comes to our position,” Mr. Tusk told reporters after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.

He said that all remaining 27 EU leaders were adamant there could be no changes to the near 600-page legal accord struck in November last year.

“We are open for talks when it comes to the declaration on the future U.K.-EU relations if the position of the U.K. were to evolve, but the withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation,” said Mr. Tusk.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European Commission, which led Brexit talks for the EU side, said there was nothing to add because leaders “repeated unanimously there will be no renegotiation of the withdrawal agreement”.