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Germany leading push for stricter EU line in Brexit talks with UK Germany leading push for stricter EU line in Brexit talks with UK
(35 minutes later)
Germany is leading EU27 states in pressuring their negotiating team to take a stricter line in Brexit talks with the UK, offering the British government no hope of discussions on a future relationship with the bloc unless a definitive concession on the financial settlement is made in the next few weeks.Germany is leading EU27 states in pressuring their negotiating team to take a stricter line in Brexit talks with the UK, offering the British government no hope of discussions on a future relationship with the bloc unless a definitive concession on the financial settlement is made in the next few weeks.
At a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday evening, the EU27 states told Michel Barnier, the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator, of their “disappointment and surprise” at the UK government’s failure to offer any further details on the budget commitments it was willing to honour on the leaving the EU.At a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday evening, the EU27 states told Michel Barnier, the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator, of their “disappointment and surprise” at the UK government’s failure to offer any further details on the budget commitments it was willing to honour on the leaving the EU.
With talks between the negotiating parties resuming in Brussels on Thursday, Barnier was “under a bit of pressure” on Wednesday evening to ensure discussions do not develop beyond the unpicking of the opening withdrawal issues, according to one senior EU diplomat. Talks between the negotiating parties resume in Brussels on Thursday, and one senior EU diplomat said Barnier was “under a bit of pressure” to ensure discussions do not develop beyond the unpicking of the opening withdrawal issues.
“The member states want to be careful. We are not going to swim into the UK’s net,” one source said, on condition of anonymity.“The member states want to be careful. We are not going to swim into the UK’s net,” one source said, on condition of anonymity.
The British insist there should be at least some talks on future arrangements at this stage, in order help settle the opening withdrawal issues of the financial settlement, citizens’ rights and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. London insists there should be at least some talks on future arrangements at this stage in order help settle the opening withdrawal issues of the financial settlement, citizens’ rights and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
One subject on which the British are making a fresh push for bilateral talks with member states is the future right of UK nationals to vote in their adopted home nations in municipal and European elections. The UK is also making a fresh push for bilateral talks with member states on the future right of UK nationals to vote in their adopted home nations in municipal and European elections.
It is within the power of each of the member states to decide on its policy but the European commission is blocking bilateral discussions on the subject, UK government sources said. “We benefit from having a single negotiating partner in the commission, and don’t want to change that, but if bilateral talks are what’s required to get people the right to vote, some flexibility will be required,” one Whitehall source said. It is within the power of each of the member states to decide on its policy, but the European commission is blocking bilateral discussions on the subject, UK government sources said. “We benefit from having a single negotiating partner in the commission, and don’t want to change that, but if bilateral talks are what’s required to get people the right to vote, some flexibility will be required,” one Whitehall source said.
Jacqueline Foster, deputy leader of Conservative MEPs, said: “The UK set out a fair and reasonable offer on citizens’ rights which is nearly ready to be signed. One of the remaining issues is the right to vote and stand in elections – but there seems to be a catch-22. Jacqueline Foster, the deputy leader of Conservative MEPs, said: “The UK set out a fair and reasonable offer on citizens’ rights which is nearly ready to be signed. One of the remaining issues is the right to vote and stand in elections, but there seems to be a catch-22.
“The commission say it’s for the member states to sort out, but tell the member states they shouldn’t talk to the Brits.”“The commission say it’s for the member states to sort out, but tell the member states they shouldn’t talk to the Brits.”
The EU has said the British government’s claim that a deal on citizens’ rights was “within touching distance” was false and its offer of a streamlined application system for EU nationals seeking to stay in the UK was inadequate, the European parliament has warned. The European parliament has denied the British claim that a deal on citizens’ rights was “within touching distance” and said London’s offer of a streamlined application system for EU nationals seeking to stay in the UK was inadequate.
The EU27 are intending to hold seminars to discuss the general terms of any transition deal and the principles of a future trading relationship next week. But the member states are insistent that Barnier’s negotiating team give a clear message to the UK that the bloc will make no further movement on their side on any issue pertaining to the future relationship until Theresa May makes a pledge on the estimated €60bn (£53bn) divorce bill. The EU27 intend to hold seminars to discuss the general terms of any transition deal and the principles of a future trading relationship next week, but the member states are insistent that Barnier’s negotiating team give a the UK a clear message that the bloc will make no further movement on their side on any issue pertaining to the future relationship until Theresa May makes a pledge on the estimated €60bn (£53bn) divorce bill.
The leaders are to rule on whether sufficient progress has been made on the opening withdrawal issues at a summit in December, but that progress needs to be seen within two to three weeks to be able to move forward. Draft EU guidelines on a transition deal and the principles of a future trading relationship are meant to be drafted by 27 November, and discussed by ambassadors two days later.The leaders are to rule on whether sufficient progress has been made on the opening withdrawal issues at a summit in December, but that progress needs to be seen within two to three weeks to be able to move forward. Draft EU guidelines on a transition deal and the principles of a future trading relationship are meant to be drafted by 27 November, and discussed by ambassadors two days later.
“This is our movement vis a vis the UK government. In the room [on Wednesday] there was strong disappointment and surprise that the UK has not picked up that it is not in December that we need movement from them, it is now,” said one EU diplomat. “That’s the nature of the EU. People need to go back to their capitals, speak to their finance ministries – it takes time.” “This is our movement vis-a-vis the UK government. In the room [on Wednesday] there was strong disappointment and surprise that the UK has not picked up that it is not in December that we need movement from them, it is now,” said one EU diplomat. “That’s the nature of the EU. People need to go back to their capitals, speak to their finance ministries. It takes time.”
Neither Barnier nor David Davis, Britain’s Brexit secretary, will attend the talks on Thursday. The concerns expressed to Barnier reflects irritation in some capitals at the belief that he offered Britain false hope over the consequences of May’s speech in Florence in October, when she committed spending €20bn to cover the EU budget for two years after the UK leaves the EU, and made a vague promise to honour all its financial commitments. Neither Barnier nor David Davis, Britain’s Brexit secretary, will attend the talks on Thursday. The concerns expressed to Barnier reflect irritation in some capitals at the belief that he offered Britain false hope over the consequences of May’s speech in Florence in October, when she committed to spending €20bn to cover the EU budget for two years after the UK leaves the EU, and made a vague promise to honour all its financial commitments.
The British had expected direct talks to begin on a transition deal, as Barnier had suggested was possible, but this was angrily rejected by the EU27 states until further detail on what future commitments May was referring to had been provided by Davis. The British had expected direct talks to begin on a transition deal, as Barnier had suggested was possible, but this was angrily rejected by the EU27 states until Davis provides further detail on the future commitments May was referring to in her speech.