Tusk expresses "strong solidarity" with Ireland over Brexit issue

The President of the European Council Donald Tusk here on Tuesday expressed "strong and ongoing solidarity" with Ireland over the Brexit issue.

The expression was made in a statement issued after Tusk's meeting with the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings in Dublin earlier in the day.

The statement, which was released by the Press Office of the Irish government, said that the two leaders discussed the state of play and latest developments with Brexit during their meeting.

"President Tusk expressed the strong and ongoing solidarity with Ireland of the European Council and European leaders," said the statement, adding that "They agreed that we must now see what proposals emerge from London in advance of the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday."

"Meanwhile, preparations continue in Ireland and across the European Union for a no-deal scenario, which would have serious consequences for all concerned," it said.

The meeting between Tusk and Varadkar took place just two days before a scheduled summit of the European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels on Thursday, which is likely to decide on an issue relating to a delayed Brexit.

Britain was scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019. However, the members of the lower house of the British parliament voted for a delayed Brexit last Thursday as they were not satisfied with a Brexit deal reached between the British government and the EU.

Neither Tusk nor Varadkar answered any questions from the media prior to or after their meeting.

Local media believed that Tusk's Tuesday visit to Dublin is probably intended to coordinate the positions between the European Council and Ireland on the issue of a delayed Brexit.

Topics such as how long a delayed Brexit should be and under what conditions it should be granted might have been discussed in the meeting, said local media RTE.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)