Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (R) listens to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a reception in the gardens of St James's Palace in central London following the Western Balkans summit on July 10, 2018. Photo: AFP

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who is vying to replace Theresa May as prime minister, said Sunday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested the European Union would be willing to renegotiate the Brexit divorce agreement.

Hunt, one of nearly a dozen Conservatives hoping to succeed May after she resigned as party leader Friday, said he spoke with Merkel at Thursday’s D-Day commemorations and was now convinced changing May’s agreement was possible.

“She said that of course with a new British prime minister we would want to look at any solutions you have,” he told Sky News.

“I’m absolutely clear that if we take the right approach to this, the Europeans would be willing to negotiate on the package.”

Hunt did not specify if he was referring to the legally binding withdrawal agreement, which the EU has repeatedly insisted cannot be re-opened, or to the accompanying political declaration on future relations, which could be revisited.

May agreed the package with the EU last year but British lawmakers rejected it three times, forcing her to delay Brexit twice – the latest extension being to October 31.

A controversial provision in the agreement for the Irish border, known as the backstop, is the key stumbling block.

It would prevent the return of border checks between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland if the sides fail to agree a free trade agreement after an initial transition period.

Hunt claimed Merkel had signalled EU leaders may now be open to a technological solution to the thorny issue – something Brussels has previously ruled out as unrealistic.

“She said to me, ‘Germany doesn’t have that border with the Republic of Ireland, you do… so you need to come up with the solution’,” he said of their conversation.

“So it’s going to be a solution that’s based around some technologies – what the Germans call intelligent border[s]. I think that’s doable.”

A German government spokeswoman said it does not comment on “the contents of confidential conversations with the chancellor.”

However, she noted comments from Merkel following a European Council meeting in April “which remains valid.”

Her statement said, “We have once again made clear that the exit agreement applies, that it will not be changed, and that we can certainly talk about future relations.”

– with reporting by AFP

Join the Conversation

1083 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and just couldn’t come across. What a great web site.

  2. Good morning, We want to take this opportunity to invite you to post your company on All Vape Stores, a leading CBD and Vape Shop Catalogue. A Tiny Bit about Us – All Vape Stores is a world wide CBD and Vape Store Catalogue that is aimed to aid folks discover their nearby CBD and vape stores. We currently get more than 100,000 distinct and highly-targeted site visitors a calendar month, mostly from the UK and UNITED STATES. We achieve such a high site web traffic number by running a very successful CBD and vape blog in which we cover the most up to date CBD and vape industry news, reviews and user manuals. We likewise send out regular weekly newsletters to our subscribers when we publish new guides. By listing your company with All Vape Stores, you will receive an opportunity to grow your brand’s visibility, website traffic and consumer base. Customers will be able to get in touch with you via a contact form directly on your business listing page. Likewise, you will receive a backlink from your profile which will aid you with your ONLINE MARKETING backlink building for organic search engine rankings. To list your business, please head to: https://allvapestores.com/ We look forward to seeing you on-board. Kind regards, All Vape Stores Team

  3. I wanted to post you one very small remark just to thank you very much over again about the precious information you’ve provided on this website. This is really particularly open-handed with people like you giving unhampered just what most people could have marketed for an e-book to earn some profit on their own, and in particular since you could have done it if you desired. The pointers additionally worked to become fantastic way to be aware that some people have similar desire just as mine to know the truth a whole lot more in terms of this problem. I’m sure there are thousands of more pleasant instances in the future for many who take a look at your blog.

  4. obviously like your web-site but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality then again I’ll certainly come back again.

  5. What i don’t understood is actually how you are no longer actually much more well-appreciated than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably relating to this matter, made me in my view imagine it from so many various angles. Its like women and men are not involved except it’s one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. Always care for it up!

  6. Good Evening! I was hoping whether anybody is able to help me with selecting new e-liquid companies for our global vape marketplace https://allvapebrands.com? In about 2 weeks, I will be introducing these e-juice lines : The Pudding Club Made In UK E-liquid, Aqua Tobacco eJuice, Cream Collection by Vape 100 Salts , King’s Crest Premium Nic Salts and Vape Chemist! Has anyone tried any of these eliquids?

  7. Good day very cool blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds additionallyKI am satisfied to find so many helpful information here within the post, we need work out extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  8. A lot of thanks for your whole efforts on this website. My mom take interest in conducting investigations and it is easy to understand why. All of us know all regarding the compelling mode you present informative tactics on this website and improve participation from other people on this area of interest while my child is truly being taught a great deal. Enjoy the rest of the new year. You’re conducting a good job.

  9. Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!