European Commission rules out reworking of Brexit deal

The European Commission again ruled out on Tuesday any reopening of the withdrawal treaty negotiated with Britain last year. The statement comes after a media report in London that Prime Minister Theresa May had asked aides to review alternative arrangements for the Irish border, Reuters said. “It is excluded that we renegotiate or reopen the withdrawal agreement because this is the best solution possible,” deputy chief spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told a news conference, citing remarks by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The report said pro-Brexit members of May’s Conservative Party were pressing the prime minister again to seek changes to the treaty so as to remove the controversial “backstop” protocol. It is intended to avoid disruptive customs checks on Northern Ireland’s land frontier with the EU.