Prime Minister updates MPs on EU Council meeting
17 December 2018
Following the EU Council meeting held on 13-14 December 2018, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, updated the House of Commons on discussions which took place.
The European Council met on 13-14 December 2018 where leaders discussed the EU's long-term budget, migration, the single market and Brexit amongst other topics.
The Prime Minister opened her statement by telling MPs the council had agreed to rollover economic sanctions against Russia and stood ready to strengthen support for Ukraine.
On Brexit, she claimed she had "faithfully and firmly" reflected the concerns of the House of Commons about the Irish backstop, and repeated that the backstop will be temporary. Theresa May stressed that the 'meaningful vote' will take place in January, on the week commencing the 14th, with debates the previous week.
The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, responded by saying that the Prime Minister has led the country into a "national crisis", and that she has made "no progress at all" in her attempts to renegotiate with the EU.
- Watch Parliament TV: Statement on EU Council meeting
- Read Commons Hansard: Statement on EU Council meeting
- EU Council (external site)
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