THE EU has confirmed “no further meetings are foreseen” with the UK on updating Theresa May’s Brexit deal – as negotiations have concluded.

A spokeswoman for European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the leaders of the remaining 27 countries “have been very clear” that what is on the table “will not be renegotiated”.

The comments are a blow to the Prime Minister, who is trying to get concessions on the backstop plans in her Withdrawal Agreement, which will ensure the border in Ireland remains open.

The backstop issue is the key concern by Tory backbenchers opposed to May’s deal who say it keeps the UK in the EU customs union indefinitely. May hopes concessions on it from the EU will convince MPs to vote it through Parliament later this month.

But at a press conference in Brussels yesterday, Mina Andreeva, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission, was asked what talks will be held before the Commons has its say on the deal on the week of January 14.

She said: “We have said many times the deal that is on the table is the best and only deal possible.

“And the EU27 leaders confirmed on December 13 in their conclusions that it will not be renegotiated,” she added.

Andreeva said the EU side have “started the ratification process” on the terms in the withdrawal agreement, adding: “For now, no further meetings are foreseen between the commission’s negotiators and the UK negotiators as the negotiations have indeed been concluded.”

She said Juncker is “always willing to listen Mrs May’s views on the backstop”, but when asked what else he can do to help her deal get through Parliament, she rebuffed any chance of altering the backstop as it currently stands.

Andreeva said: “We are not renegotiating what is on the table, our solutions are on the table, we are ready to listen but at this stage there are no further meetings and the EU 27 leaders have been very clear that it will not be renegotiated, what is on the table.”

Her words come as David Davis called on May to further delay the crunch Commons vote in the hope the EU will put a better offer on the table. The former Brexit Secretary said Brussels could come forward with more concessions if the UK looked set to crash out of the bloc without an agreement in place and deny the EU a £39 billion divorce payment.

The Prime Minister has said the so-called “meaningful vote” on her deal will take place in the week beginning 14 January – after she pulled it in December in the face of certain defeat. But there is little suggestion that rebel Tory MPs or May’s DUP partners are warming to the withdrawal agreement, despite her attempts to get assurances from Brussels that the backstop will only be temporary.

Meanwhile, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay warned no deal will be “far more likely if MPs reject the Government’s Brexit deal”.

He said: “There is obviously division in Parliament over the PM’s Brexit deal. It’s not a perfect deal. But it’s the only workable deal that delivers on the democratic choice of the British people. And it’s the best way to avoid no-deal.”