Don’t drag your feet over Brexit, May tells Brussels

THERESA May yesterday urged the European Union not to drag its feet over a post-Brexit trade deal.

The Prime Minister insisted speedy progress was in Europe’s interests as well as the UK’s.

EU officials have suggested a postBrexit trade deal might not be discussed in October as originally planned, as progress on “divorce” issues has been too slow.

Speaking in Japan, Mrs May said: “I have always said that a good trade deal isn’t just about the UK but what is good for businesses in what will be the 27 remaining states of the EU as well.

“It’s in all our interests to move onto those trade talks and get that good deal.

“Progress onto discussing a trade deal is not only going to be good for the UK, it would be good for the EU.”

Responding to EU criticism of Britain’s stance during this week’s third round of formal Brexit talks in Brussels, she said: “All these negotiations are taking place in a constructive manner, with details being discussed and put on the table.

“We have done a significant amount of work.”

EU negotiators have said they do not think enough progress is being made on “divorce” issues, such as what Britain should pay and citizens’ rights.

Mrs May added that Britain had made a “very generous, very serious” offer on the rights of EU citizens in Britain after Brexit.

Generous

Later, in a series of interviews after landing in Kyoto, Mrs May said she still believed in her “no deal is better than a bad deal” stance.

She added: “But if you talk about the point at which we leave the European Union we want to ensure that at that point we do have a deal and that we have a deal that is the right deal for the United Kingdom.

“I said back in January that one of the things we wanted to ensure was a smooth change over from membership of the European Union to the future arrangements and that we would need to have a period of time to implement any practical changes that needed to take place.”

EU negotiator Guy Verhofstadt last night suggested Britain could effectively remain under Brussels rule for years due to the slow progress of Brexit talks.

The Belgian MEP, who represents the European Parliament in the EU’s negotiation team, warned the UK’s relationship with Brussels will change very little during the “transition period” of up to three years after the country formally leaves the bloc.

In a speech to a committee of MEPs in Brussels, Mr Verhofstadt said: “There is now, I think, more and more recognition of the need of a transitional deal.

“What will be the substance of this transition deal has to be discussed.

“I think that the more and more time we lose in the coming months, the more and more it’s clear that the transition period can only be the prolongation of the existing situation, of the status quo, because you cannot imagine in a few weeks’ or months’ time a new system.”

Mr Verhofstadt was also pessimistic about the chances of trade talks beginning in October as scheduled.