Malta favours a Brexit deal but the EU cannot move from the principles outlined in the proposed agreement, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

Dr Muscat met Mr Corbyn during the European Socialist leaders’ meeting in Madrid, according to a statement sent by the Labour Party.

With just five weeks until Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, Theresa May is yet to get the changes to her exit deal with Brussels she needs to secure its ratification in parliament.

Ahead of a promised parliamentary debate and vote on the next steps on Brexit on February 27, Mr Corbyn is under intense pressure from moderates within his party to back a second referendum explicitly, now that the terms of Brexit are known.

Mr Corbyn, a longtime eurosceptic, has said Labour is focusing on securing an early national election before any possible resort to a second referendum.

The Madrid meeting was used for the first vice president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans to formally launch his bid to take on the Commission's top job.

Dr Muscat also held formal meetings with Romanian prime minister Viorica Dăncilă.

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