May comes up empty in Brussels with no new Brexit concessions

BRUSSELS — British Prime Minister Theresa May’s two days of efforts to convince European leaders to soften their Brexit demands appeared to backfire Friday, as a Brussels summit broke up with Europe’s stance tougher than it was before her diplomatic push.

Facing rebellion at home over compromises she made in negotiating how Britain will withdraw from the European Union, May sought adjustments to sweeten the agreement for her Tory backbenchers and allow an orderly Brexit in March.

EU leaders initially appeared open to symbolic statements to help calm British furies. But even symbolism appeared out of reach after May’s efforts unsettled Europeans who are weary of dealing with Britain’s political dramas.

Several European leaders said they were directing their governments to speed emergency preparations for Britain’s crashing out of the European Union with no deal at all, a prospect that could create a humanitarian and economic crisis after the March 29 exit deadline. And although May tried on her way out to spin the meetings as a success, her fellow leaders suggested that her statements bore little relationship to reality.

“Those take us forward. Those are welcome. This is the clearest statement we’ve heard yet from the European Union that it’s their intention for the backstop never to be necessary,” May said of a Thursday night statement from the 27 other EU leaders that simply repeated the substance of the already-agreed, toxic-in-London deal.

The backstop refers to a provision that would keep Britain in the EU customs union if a better solution is not found to preserve an open border between Northern Ireland, which is set to leave along with the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, which will remain in the EU. Everyone agrees they need to keep the border open to prevent a return to sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

May said she would keep speaking with fellow leaders to win further reassurances that customs union membership would only be temporary.

But others said that while phone lines to Europe were always open, changes to the deal were impossible.

“I have no mandate to organize any further negotiations,” saidEuropeanCouncilPresident Donald Tusk. “But, of course, we will stay here in Brussels, and I am always at Prime Minister Theresa May’s disposal. It’s my job and it’s my pleasure.”