May urges EU to ‘ step forward’ with Brexit deal

Brussels, Nov. 24: Prime Minister Theresa May urged the EU to “step forward together” with Britain on Friday as the bloc’s leaders hoped she would finally offer a compromise to reach a Brexit divorce deal in December.

The embattled British premier was set to meet EU President Donald Tusk on the sidelines of a summit with ex- Soviet states in Brussels in a bid to unlock negotiations on a future trade deal.

EU officials were increasingly hopeful she would bring a new proposal on the thorny issue of Britain’s exit bill, after senior British ministers agreed earlier this week to improve the offer to a reported 40 billion euros.

Arriving in Brussels, Ms May refused to deny she was ready to bump up the amount Britain would pay when she meets Mr Tusk but insisted any such move must be tied to a final deal on future relations next year.

“These negotiations are continuing but what I’m clear about is that we must step forward together. This is for both the UK and the EU to move to the next stage,” she told reporters.

The EU insists Britain must tie up divorce terms — the bill, the Irish border and the rights of EU nationals living in Britain before there can be any talks on future relations.

At a meeting in Gothenburg, Mr Tusk gave May until the start of December to make “much more progress” in order to unlock trade negotiations at an EU summit on December 14- 15.

European Commission President Jean- Claude Juncker appeared more optimistic than previously about a deal but said nothing would be decided before he had dinner with Ms May. “Yes,” he replied in English when asked if he was confident of a deal.

“The actual final phase begins on December 4. There is some movement, I don’t know in which direction, but I hope in the right direction,” the former Luxembourg Prime Pinister added. Ireland is a sticking point, with Dublin threatning to veto a deal if its concerns about the border with Northern Ireland are not taken into account.

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These negotiations are continuing but what I'm clear about is that we must step forward together. This is for both the UK and the EU to move to the next stage. — Theresa May British Prime Minister

AFP