EUROCRATS’ RED LINES THAT COULD DOOM THE TALKS

THereSA May reacted with fury to a week of poisonous briefings by Brussels officials, accusing them of trying to interfere in the general election and undermine Brexit negotiations.

As the eU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier darkly warned of the ‘consequences’ of Britain leaving, executive Political editor JAcK dOYLe analyses its red lines.

THE BREXIT BILL

WHAT BRUSSELS WANTS: A claimed 100billion euro Brexit ‘divorce bill’. ANALYSIS: in public, Mr Barnier claimed the demands were ‘not a punishment, nor an exit tax’. But in an anonymous briefing to the remain- supporting Financial Times, Brussels doubled its 50billion estimate. Mr Barnier said Britain must agree to pay for long-term programmes, relocating eU agencies from London and parts of the eU-Turkey refugee deal. Officials ruled out the UK getting credit for its share of the eU’s 800billion euros of collective assets. Our government will honour its commitments, but will not pay anything like the sums demanded.

EU JUDGES

WHAT BRUSSELS WANTS: Huge powers for the unelected european court of Justice (ecJ). ANALYSIS: The eU says the judges in Luxembourg should retain huge influence over the UK. The court should also have power to rule over cases before we leave, over UK ‘state aid’ support for industry, and rights of eU nationals living here. Significantly, it should ‘adjudicate’ in disputes over terms of the deal – particularly money. Mrs May is determined to end ecJ influence.

EU MIGRANTS/UK EXPATS

WHAT BRUSSELS WANTS: Blanket rights for eU nationals in the UK to bring in family. ANALYSIS: Like Mrs May, the eU wants an early deal on rights of the three million eU nationals in the UK and 1.2million British expats on the continent. Brussels demands any eU national who arrives before Brexit – even if they have been here a day – has the right to remain after five years’ residency. They should also have the right to bring in relatives who would receive similar protections. While some of the eU’s demands will be difficult to swallow, the government will compromise – but only if British nationals on the continent are fully protected.

POST-BREXIT TRADE DEAL

WHAT BRUSSELS SAYS: nothing. ANALYSIS: On the first page of its negotiating position, the eU makes clear it is addressing the UK’s ‘ orderly withdrawal’ and not future arrangements. Mr Barnier says we must secure a framework deal on money, eU migrants and the ecJ before a trade deal. Mrs May wants to discuss the issues at the same time. Yesterday she repeated her mantra ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’. if trade is not on the table, Mrs May will have to walk away.