Romanian President Klaus Iohannis (2nd R) welcomes Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (2nd L) at Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, capital of Romania, July 24, 2018. The probability of a Brexit without concluding an agreement between Britain and the European Union is very low, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday when meeting with visiting Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel)
BUCHAREST, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The probability of a Brexit without concluding an agreement between Britain and the European Union is very low, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday when meeting with visiting Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar.
"The 'hard' no-deal Brexit is not wanted by anyone, either by the UK, or the EU 27," said Iohannis, adding that it's commonly held that a no-agreement Brexit doesn't mean these complex talks are over but mean that these "very complicated" talks would become "even more complicated."
"We make ourselves ready for more intense talks, perhaps more flexible, very thorough talks, in any case, so that we find the best solution to finalise this Brexit," the president said at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
In his turn, the Irish prime minister emphasized that the odds of a no-agreement Brexit are small, but this scenario must be taken into account and the EU must be ready for such an outcome.
"I think it is a real risk. We must take it seriously. And yet I believe we could come to some agreements. I'd say it is a very strong probability that proper agreements will be met in October. This is what everybody wants in both United Kingdom and the European Union," said Varadkar.
He mentioned that Ireland is preparing for such a scenario and that in this context it diversifies its exports.
"We will multiply our efforts, but in order to make sure that a financial agreement and an accord for the rights of the European citizens and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be met," he said, stressing that his country cannot accept a "tough" border, physical border respectively, between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but the two sides have yet to agree how trade will work afterwards. The EU and the UK want a deal in place by October.
According to international reports, the prospects of a "no-deal Brexit" seem more real now than at any time and both the EU and the UK are stepping up contingency planning for a no-deal outcome to the Brexit negotiations.
The European Commission said last week that if Britain crashes out the EU, "there would be no specific arrangement in place for EU citizens in the United Kingdom, or for UK citizens in the European Union."
On the other side, Britain called on EU negotiators on Monday to urgently change their approach to Brexit or face the turmoil of a "no-deal by accident."
