The Asian Age

EU sets stiff Brexit guidelines

Leaders approve 8 pages of negotiatin­g terms at the summit

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April 29, Brussels: European Union leaders endorsed a stiff set of divorce terms for Britain at a summit on Saturday, rejoicing in a rare show of unity in adversity but well aware that may start to fray once negotiatio­ns begin.

Meeting for the first time since British Prime Minister Theresa May formally triggered a twoyear countdown to Brexit in late March, the 27 other EU leaders took just a minute as they sat down to lunch in Brussels to approve 8 pages of negotiatin­g guidelines hammered out by their diplomats over the past month.

“Guidelines adopted unanimousl­y. EU27 firm and fair political mandate for the Brexit talks is ready,” summit chair Donald Tusk tweeted.

Leaders applauded, officials said, after formally adopting unmodified the text drafted by their aides.

Those will bind Michel Barnier, their chief negotiator, to seek a deal that secures the rights of 3 million EU expats living in Britain, ensure London pays tens of billions of euros Brussels thinks it will be owed and avoids destabilis­ing peace by creating a hard EU-UK border across the island of Ireland.

“We are ready,” Mr Barnier said. “We are together,” Barnier added.

They also rule out discussing the free trade deal Ms May wants until they see progress on agreeing those key withdrawal terms.

“Before discussing the future, we have to sort out our past,” Mr Tusk said in comments echoed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said “substantiv­e issues” must first be settled.

In a mark of how last year’s Brexit vote has called into question the unity of the United Kingdom itself, leaders will also offer Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny a pledge that if Northern Ireland, which voted against Brexit, ever unites with his country, it will

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