May, Juncker set for more Brexit talks in Brussels

May has been seeking changes to the Irish 'backstop' before the deal comes up again for a vote in parliament at the end of the month.

The backstop clause in the deal, which ensures a soft border remains in Ireland if the UK's cannot strike a trade deal with the bloc, was rejected by MPs who argue it will separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK and tie Britain to EU regulations indefinitely.

May was expected to present Juncker with a plan to secure legal assurances that the Irish backstop would not permanently bind the UK into a customs union, after she conceded that it was not possible to move forward with the so-called 'Malthouse compromise' that proposed a free trade agreement using as-yet-non-existent technology.

Speaking in Berlin, Hunt said if changes could be achieved to the backstop wording "we are confident that we can get this deal through...the critical thing is that the British attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, needs to be able to change his advice to parliament that currently says that it is possible, if not likely, that Britain could be under the current backstop arrangements, trapped in the customs union, forever, against its will"

"That is the issue that parliamentarians have difficulty with, so this is really the only way through the current situation and that is why the 29th March is concentrating everybody’s minds."

"Nobody wants a no-deal outcome and I think we now have to do what Europeans do very well, which is to come together around a table and find a compromise that allows Geoffrey Cox to change his advice and then I think we can meet that 29th March deadline."

Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas on Tuesday said the May/Juncker talks would try to "see whether a way through can be found that would gain the broadest possible support in the UK parliament and respect the guidelines agreed by the European Council”.

He insisted the EU would not reopen the withdrawal agreement or accept a time limit to the backstop or a unilateral exit clause.

“We are listening and working with the UK government to see how we can work for an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU on March 29,” he added.

Meanwhile in Athens, Greek foreign minister George Katrougalos promised to guarantee the rights of the estimated 45,000 Britons living in the country in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

“There is a substantial Greek community in the UK and a sizeable UK community in Greece and we wish for both of them to continue to enjoy fully the benefits and privileges they had before withdrawal,” Katrougalos wrote in a letter to Hunt and published by the UK government.

"In this scenario too, Citizens’ Rights is a top priority and our aim is to ensure that both Greek and UK citizens who chose to live, study and work in each others’ countries will continue to do so without obstacles and will fully enjoy similar, if not identical, rights as before withdrawal."

"Let me assure you, in this respect, that British citizens already living in Greece are welcome, valued and [are] an important bridge of friendship between our two countries. Their rights will be fully recognised and guaranteed, in line with the reciprocity offered by the UK to EU citizens."