EU says risk of no-deal on Brexit imminent

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - The risk of no-deal on Brexit is imminent, European Union's chief Brexit negotiator said on Wednesday following British lawmakers’ rejection of Brexit deal.

Speaking at the EU parliament, Michel Barnier said: "We are fearing more than ever, that there is a risk of a no deal, and we still are focused on avoiding that scenario."

Barnier went on to say: "But at the same time, we must remain lucid and clear in our approach which is why we are stepping up our efforts to be prepared for that possibility."

Lawmakers in the House of Commons rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May’s European Union withdrawal agreement after 432 of them voted against it Tuesday evening.

Dealing with a historic defeat, the vote declared the deal, which was agreed to by British and EU officials after two years of negotiations, effectively null and void.