EU chiefs welcome ‘step forward’ but questions remain

THERESA May’s ‘constructive spirit’ received a mixed reception across Europe with many suggesting that, despite its positive tone, the speech raised more questions than answers.

‘The speech shows a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence,’ the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said in a lengthy statement, adding that Mrs May’s specially staged event in Renaissance Florence chimed with the spirit of Europe.

He said it was a ‘step forward’ that Mrs May said British courts would protect EU citizens in Britain based directly on a new EU-UK treaty, not on British law, and would take future EU case law into account.

Guy Verhofstadt, the Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament, who visited Ireland this week, called Mrs May’s speech ‘more realistic’ but warned against ‘cherry picking’ EU favours during the transition. His demands that Britain forgo controls on EU immigration during any transition and go on making budget payments Looking for clarity: Guy Verhofstadt beyond 2020 may jar with May’s pro-Brexit supporters. Mr Verhofstadt also called for more detail on the subject of an EU divorce bill. ‘On the financial settlement, Prime Minister May brought some additional clarifications but also important questions remain,’ he said. Brexit Secretary David Davis arrives in Brussels on Monday for a new week of talks. Mrs May meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Monday and will meet the other 27 leaders in Estonia on Thursday and Friday. In Britain, May’s speech drew criticism from her opponents both to the Right and the Left. Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said it suggested Britain would leave the EU ‘in name only’. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the transition period, but said: ‘15 months after the EU referendum the government is still no clearer about what our longterm relationship with the EU will look like.’