Taskforces to work through weekend ahead of negotiations entering critical phase

AS Brexit talks enter a critical phase, taskforces from the EU and UK will be working all weekend ahead of Monday’s crucial meeting between Prime Minister Theresa May and President of the European Commission, JeanClaude Juncker.

Monday’s lunch is the next milestone event in the Brexit negotiations.

Mrs May will present the UK’s offer on all key areas, including the rights of EU citizens after Brexit, the financial settlement, and practical language committing the UK to avoiding a hard Border with the Republic of Ireland.

These issues have to be settled in order for talks to reach “sufficient progress” before sides move to phase two, which will in theory involve a trade deal.

Mrs May is expected to put solid proposals on the table indicating the UK is heading in the right direction. Her presentation will be put to the rest of the EU member states.

Mr Juncker will also discuss them with the EU’s lead negotiator Michel Barnier. If there is sufficient progress this will be signed off by Mr Barnier, who will prepare to bring the UK’s offer to the European Council.

In the meantime, senior expert officials or ‘sherpas’ from each member state will meet in Brussels around Monday or Tuesday ahead of the crucial European Council summit on December 14 and 15.

In between will also be a meeting of the General Affairs Council for Article 50, where European ministers will also discuss the proposals.