EU AGREES THAT BREXIT TALKS CAN MOVE ON TO PHASE TWO

BRUSSELS: EU leaders have ruled that sufficient progress has been made in the first phase of Brexit talks, allowing negotiations to move on to discussions about Britain’s future outside the bloc.

While some questions over the three opening issues that have so far dominated the negotiations still remain, a joint proposal from the United Kingdom and the European commission to move the talks on has been accepted.

The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, tweeted : “EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may.”

The leaders have also adopted a set of guidelines spelling out their terms for a transition period, and a rough timetable for the next few months.

Initially, the second phase of Brexit talks will be dominated by discussions over the transition period, under which the UK will continue to abide by European Union law for around two years, but not have a role in any decision-making institutions.

Theresa May has been given three months to get agreement within the cabinet on the UK government’s vision of a future trade deal, after which substantive talks on the future relationship will begin.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors and the manufacturers’ organisation EEF warned though that jobs were at risk unless swift progress was made in the second phase of the negotiations.