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Brexit: Macron says UK needs to clarify three questions before talks can continue Brexit: Macron says UK needs to clarify three questions before talks can continue
(35 minutes later)
French President Emmanuel Macron has said Brexit cannot proceed until three major sticking points have been clarified, following Theresa May's speech in Florence.French President Emmanuel Macron has said Brexit cannot proceed until three major sticking points have been clarified, following Theresa May's speech in Florence.
Mr Macron said the settlement rights of EU nationals living in the UK, the financial terms of the exit package and the Irish question all require further clarification before the negotiations can continue.Mr Macron said the settlement rights of EU nationals living in the UK, the financial terms of the exit package and the Irish question all require further clarification before the negotiations can continue.
He said he noted "progress" and "openings" in the key speech delivered by Ms May, but was still left needing answers to the three key questions.He said he noted "progress" and "openings" in the key speech delivered by Ms May, but was still left needing answers to the three key questions.
"The signals sent by the British Prime Minister show a will", he told the French press."The signals sent by the British Prime Minister show a will", he told the French press.
"Before we move forward, we want to clarify matters concerning the settlement of European citizens, the financial terms of exit and the question of Ireland."Before we move forward, we want to clarify matters concerning the settlement of European citizens, the financial terms of exit and the question of Ireland.
"If these three points are not clarified, we will not be able to advance on the rest.""If these three points are not clarified, we will not be able to advance on the rest."
He added that he would leave "the exclusitity" of the reactions to the chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier. He added that he would leave "the exclusivity" of the reactions to the chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.
"On two of these points (...) openings have been made, it is up to Michel Barnier to comment on them.""On two of these points (...) openings have been made, it is up to Michel Barnier to comment on them."
Mr Barnier earlier welcomed "the constructive spirit" of the speech in Italy - but asked for further details on its "concrete implications". Mr Barnier earlier welcomed "the constructive spirit" of the speech in Italy - but asked for further details on its "concrete implications", particularly in regards to Ireland.
The Brussels chief said the Prime Minister had failed to clarify how the UK would honour its "special responsibility" for the consequences of Brexit for Ireland.
Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined the call for greater detail on how a transition period might work after the UK leaves the Union in 2019, while Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Mrs May delivered nothing but the same old story.
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Much of the speech delivered exactly what was expected, with Ms May proposing a transition period of "about two years" following the UK's exit from the 28 nation block in March 2019, during which time trading relations will remain as they are in order to avoid the much-feared economic "cliff edge".Much of the speech delivered exactly what was expected, with Ms May proposing a transition period of "about two years" following the UK's exit from the 28 nation block in March 2019, during which time trading relations will remain as they are in order to avoid the much-feared economic "cliff edge".
  In her 35-minute address, Ms May insisted there should be no need for new trade tariffs between the UK and EU and promised any future UK divergence from EU rules would not be designed to gain an "unfair competitive advantage".
  The speech was hailed as "positive, optimistic and dynamic" by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who was in the audience just six days after publishing his 4,000 word personal Brexit manifesto which exposed Cabinet rifts over the future relationship and was widely viewed as his personal manifesto.
More follows… But Mr Johnson admitted it could take until 2021 to fully repatriate powers back to the UK as promised by the Leave campaign, telling reporters: "As the Prime Minister rightly said we are going to have a transition period and after that of course we are going to be taking back control of our borders, of our laws, of our destiny."
  Neither Mr Macron not any of the other EU leaders were present in the audience which consisted chiefly of Westminster reporters and Italian business and diplomatic figures.