EU leaders agree to do Brexit prep

December set aside for terms of ‘divorce’

EUROPEAN Union leaders are set to agree to start preparatory talks on the bloc’s relationship with Britain after Brexit, offering some progress for embattled Prime Minister Theresa May to take back home.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel struck an optimistic note after a summit dinner on Thursday, saying that despite delays, she could see “zero indications that we will not succeed” in reaching a final agreement.

EU leaders have made it clear they will not agree to move talks on to the future trading relationship with Britain, saying there has not yet been enough progress on the terms of the divorce.

Draft conclusions indicate they will delay the decision until the next summit in December, but will agree to “start internal preparatory discussions” on trade and a possible transition deal.

The slow progress of the negotiations, particularly on Britain’s financial settlement, stoked fears it could leave the EU in March 2019 without a deal in place, risking economic and legal chaos.

Merkel emphasised she did not want this, saying: “I want very clearly a deal and not some unpredictable solution, on this we are working very intensively.”

May was due to join her 27 counterparts for a working breakfast on the future of the EU, before leaving them to discuss the state of Brexit negotiations.

The EU agrees that of the three key separation issues at stake, citizens’ rights is the most advanced, but sticking points remain on the bill and Northern Ireland’s border with Ireland.

May pressed her colleagues on Thursday for “urgent” progress on a deal she could sell to voters and her own Conservative party, which is still divided over Brexit. — AFP