EU, Britain clash over Brexit bill

BRUSSELS: The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned on Wednesday that negotiations will not be quick or painless, as Brussels and London traded blows over the size of Britain’s exit bill.

Unveiling his negotiating mandate for two years of talks, Barnier denied the bloc was punishing Britain but insisted it must settle its accounts.

London in return hotly rejected a reported €100 billion bill from the other 27 European Union states and warned it could simply walk away from negotiations if bullied.

“Some have created the illusion that Brexit would have no material impact on our lives, or that negotiations can be concluded quickly and painlessly. This is not the case,” Barnier told a news conference in Brussels. He refused to give an overall figure for what Britain must pay, but said this was not tantamount to demanding a “blank cheque” to end its membership.

Barnier’s negotiating mandate follows the political guidelines unanimously agreed by the other 27 EU nations without Britain. It demands that before talks on a future trade deal, Britain must first settle divorce terms on money, the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and Northern Ireland border.

British Prime Minister Theresa May wants the talks to run in parallel, warning she would rather Britain exit the EU without any agreement on future ties than accept a “bad deal”.

But she was put on the defensive this week after leaks about a disastrous dinner in London with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Barnier. Juncker took a lighter tone on Wednesday, describing May as a “tough lady”. But he warned UK’s Brexit minister David Davis, likely to be the man opposite Barnier during the talks, against further threats.