This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brexit-negotiations-talks-latest-sufficient-progress-not-made-european-parliament-eu-leaders-theresa-a7980351.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brexit negotiations: European Parliament says sufficient progress not made as it urges EU leaders to delay next phase of talks | Brexit negotiations: European Parliament says sufficient progress not made as it urges EU leaders to delay next phase of talks |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| MEPs have delivered a blow to Theresa May by demanding talks on a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU are delayed because of Britain’s confused stance. | MEPs have delivered a blow to Theresa May by demanding talks on a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU are delayed because of Britain’s confused stance. |
| The European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a motion warning that “sufficient progress has not yet been made” on agreeing the divorce deal. | |
| EU leaders have insisted Britain must first move to settle three key separation issues: the financial settlement, the future rights of EU citizens and the Irish border. | |
| But the motion – passed unamended – instead accused the UK of having “seriously impeded” talks over the divorce bill because of a lack of “clear proposals”. | |
| The resolution was backed by 557 MEPs sitting in Strasbourg, with just 92 voting against and 29 abstentions. | The resolution was backed by 557 MEPs sitting in Strasbourg, with just 92 voting against and 29 abstentions. |
| Only a “major breakthrough” should see the EU council of ministers agree to move onto the second phase of the talks – future trade – at a summit later this month, it said. | Only a “major breakthrough” should see the EU council of ministers agree to move onto the second phase of the talks – future trade – at a summit later this month, it said. |
| The vote in Strasbourg is not binding, but the views of MEPs are crucial because they have a veto over any final Brexit agreement. | The vote in Strasbourg is not binding, but the views of MEPs are crucial because they have a veto over any final Brexit agreement. |
| It represents a setback for the Prime Minister, who hoped her speech in Florence – promising to plug any hole in the EU budget, until 2020 – would break the stalemate. | It represents a setback for the Prime Minister, who hoped her speech in Florence – promising to plug any hole in the EU budget, until 2020 – would break the stalemate. |
| During the debate, a senior MEP warned Ms May that Boris Johnson must be sacked if she wanted to prevent the Brexit negotiations breaking down. | During the debate, a senior MEP warned Ms May that Boris Johnson must be sacked if she wanted to prevent the Brexit negotiations breaking down. |
| Manfred Weber, a key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the Foreign Secretary’s interventions left the Government “trapped by their own party quarrels and political contradictions”. | Manfred Weber, a key ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the Foreign Secretary’s interventions left the Government “trapped by their own party quarrels and political contradictions”. |
| “Please sack Johnson because we need a clear answer who is responsible for the British position,” said the leader of the centre-right EPP grouping in the European Parliament. | “Please sack Johnson because we need a clear answer who is responsible for the British position,” said the leader of the centre-right EPP grouping in the European Parliament. |
| “Who do I call in London – Theresa May, Boris Johnson or David Davis? Please don’t put your party first. We need a clear answer who is responsible for the British position.” | |
| The warning was echoed by Guy Verhofstadt, the Parliament’s Brexit coordinator, who said cabinet splits were blocking progress in the exit talks. | |
| “There is a lack of clarity, there is even disunity,” he said. “There are oppositions between [Philip] Hammond and [Liam] Fox. There are divisions between Johnson and May.” | |
| MEPs made clear they will veto any deal unless Britain continues to accept European Court of Justice rulings during any implementation period. | |
| “Such a transitional period can only be envisaged under the full jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union,” the motion said – and if other withdrawal issues are “concluded”. | “Such a transitional period can only be envisaged under the full jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union,” the motion said – and if other withdrawal issues are “concluded”. |
| However, ending the jurisdiction of the court immediately at the point of Brexit was one of the four red lines set out by the Foreign Secretary over the past weekend. | |
| He also demanded that no new EU directives or regulations should apply to Britain after Brexit and that the UK should not pay, or accept EU rules, to gain long-term access to the single market. | He also demanded that no new EU directives or regulations should apply to Britain after Brexit and that the UK should not pay, or accept EU rules, to gain long-term access to the single market. |
| Some senior Tories believe that Mr Johnson is deliberately attempting to set Ms May up to fail by making demands that Brussels will never agree to. | |
| MEPs passed the resolution, drawn up by the Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, following a debate on Tuesday morning with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier. | MEPs passed the resolution, drawn up by the Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, following a debate on Tuesday morning with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier. |