German official demands Brexit progress in Britain

Published On: April 9, 2019 12:59 PM NPT

Pro EU protestor banners are fixed on a fence opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, Monday, April 8, 2019. Britain's government and opposition party are hoping to find a compromise Brexit deal ahead of further talks with European Union leaders.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

BERLIN, April 9: A senior German official is demanding “substantial steps” forward in Britain’s Brexit standoff and insisting any delay must come with strict conditions, as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to plead for more time in Berlin.

Michael Roth, Germany’s deputy foreign minister, said as he arrived at a European Union meeting in Luxembourg Tuesday that “so far absolutely nothing has changed” and “we are in a very, very frustrating situation here.”

May has asked for a new delay until June 30. The bloc’s leaders are due to meet Wednesday to consider the request. May is visiting Berlin and Paris later Tuesday.

Roth said that “within the European Union, there isn’t an endless readiness to keep talking about delays so long as there is no substantial progress on the British side.”