The European Commission President has said he is 'intimately committed' to the objectives of the Brexit border backstop.
Jean-Claude Juncker opened the European Parliament this morning with a warning that there is now a "palpable risk" that the UK will crash out of the EU in six weeks time.
He said his meeting with Boris Johnson in Luxembourg on Monday was "friendly, constructive and, in part, positive."
He said he warned the UK Prime Minister that if he wants changes to the backstop, he must come forward with "concrete, operational" alternatives that deliver the same end-goal.
"I told Boris Johnson that I have no emotional attachment to the backstop," he declared.
"But I made clear that I do have an intimate commitment to its objectives.
"I invited the prime minister to make concrete, operational, textual proposals on alternative ways in which backstop goals can be met."
He warned however that he does not believe "any real progress has been achieved" in terms of breaking the impasse over the withdrawal agreement.
European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier delivers a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, 18-09-2019. Image: AP Photo/Jean-Francois BadiasMeanwhile, chief negotiator Michel Barnier told the Parliament that the Mr Johnson should not be "pretending to negotiate," and urged him to bring forward legally operable alternatives.
"The UK government has outlined aspects of the backstop it doesn't like," he said.
"That is not enough.
"We need a legally operable solution. We are open to any proposal and will work day and night."
The Parliament's Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt took aim at Mr Johnson for comparing the UK to the Incredible Hulk breaking out of his chains.
"'Boris Johnson likes to compare himself to movie characters," he said.
"Concerning citizens' rights - instead of playing the angry Hulk, I think he should inspire himself by another character - the caring nanny in the film of Mrs Doubtfire."
Downing Street said earlier this week Mr Johnson remains confident he can "reach a deal with the backstop removed, that UK parliamentarians could support."
It added discussions with the EU will "intensify" and now occur daily.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, 18-09-2019. Image: AP Photo/Jean-Francois BadiasMeanwhile, politicians and commentators in the UK have reacted angrily to the Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's decision to go ahead with a planned news conference after Mr Johnson cancelled it.
UK Justice Secretary Robert Buckland labelled it a "media stunt" while the former Tory leader said the " arrogant and ill-mannered behaviour" would feed distrust of the EU in the UK.
Brexit party leader Nigel Farage called Mr Bettel a "pipsqueak" who had "set out to ritually humiliate a British prime minister in the most astonishing way only to be greeted like a hero by [French] President Macron at the Elysée Palace yesterday."
