LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Britain’s exit from the European Union (all times local):
11:55 a.m.
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will hold more talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May this week, but has ruled out that the Brexit deal agreed on in November could be renegotiated to gain support in the British parliament.
EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Monday that the Brexit deal “on the table is the best and the only deal possible.”
May has been furiously trying to get the deal through Parliament but had to call off a vote on it last month since she was facing certain defeat. The vote is now expected for next week.
In Britain, there are still some expectations that the deal could be reviewed but Schinas said Monday “this deal will not be renegotiated.”
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11:15 a.m.
Britain is testing how its motorway and ferry system would handle a no-deal Brexit by sending a stream of trucks from a regional airport to the port of Dover.
The tests began Monday morning and are intended to gauge how severe the disruption would be if Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 without an agreed upon withdrawal deal.
It is expected that an abrupt departure without a deal would lead to the introduction of tariff and customs barriers that would slow fast-moving ferry and rail traffic that links Britain to continental Europe.
There are concerns that major traffic jams leading into and out of the ferry ports of Dover could greatly hamper trade.
Parliament is expected to vote on a withdrawal plan next week.
