Donald Tusk holds out hope that Britain could abandon Brexit process

Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, he told journalists that while Europe was ready for a deal or no-deal Brexit, it was “best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario.”

Earlier in the day, the president had been formally presented with a copy of the 585-page draft agreement by Europe’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Copies have also been handed out to the ambassadors from the EU27, who are due to meet at the end of this week to feed back any criticism.

They’ll also discuss the mandate for the European Commission to finalise the joint political declaration on future UK/EU relations.

The plan is to have everything agreed by November 22 to allowing the European Council to convene at 9.30am on November 25 to formally back the deal.

Reports yesterday suggested it might not be that easy.

France, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands are all said to have serious concerns about concessions given to the UK, in particular over plans for a customs union without sufficient safeguards to stop British companies undercutting European industry.

However, there seems to be little room for any further negotiations or concessions on either side.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said the agreement was likely the best that could be delivered.

She said: “We have a document on the table that Britain and the remaining 27 EU states have agreed. There is as far as I am concerned no question of further bargaining at present.”

Merkel said she was happy that a deal had been reached after “long and really not so easy” negotiations.

There was enthusiasm for the deal from Spain.

Luis Marco Aguiriano, the country’s Europe minister, said that the agreement was “very positive”.

He admitted Madrid had also drawn up a contingency plan for a no-deal Brexit.

“If the United Kingdom leaves without a deal, so does Gibraltar. What we want is an orderly exit,” he said.

Back in Brussels, Tusk told journalists there was still a lot of work to be done.

“Of course, I do not share the Prime Minister’s enthusiasm about Brexit as such,” he said. “Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation and our negotiations are only about damage control.”

He thanked Barnier, telling him: “You have achieved our two most important objectives: You ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and you secured the vital interests and principles of the 27 member states and of the European Union as a whole.”

Then, in a message to the British people, Tusk said: “As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us.”

Barnier said: “This is a very important moment. What we have agreed at negotiators’ level is fair and balanced, takes into account the UK’s positions, organises the withdrawal in an orderly fashion, ensures no hard border on the island of Ireland and lays the ground for an ambitious new partnership.”

He added: “Our work is not finished. We still have a long road ahead of us on both sides.

“On my side, in the next few days we will all work on the text of the political declaration on the future relationship with the member states as well as with the European Parliament.

“This work will be intense. Our goal is to finalise this political declaration with the UK so that the European Council can endorse it.”

Later, when asked about May’s cabinet turmoil, Tusk said: “It is not for me to comment on the latest developments in London ... the EU is prepared for a final deal with the United Kingdom. We are also prepared for a no-deal scenario – but of course we are best prepared for a no-Brexit scenario.”

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit Coordinator, hailed the deal: “It is now up to elected parliamentarians on both sides of the Channel to do their work and scrutinise the proposed deal, including the political declaration and the framework for future relationship.”