May meets Eastern European leaders to lay groundwork for departure talks

THERESA MAY was today set for tough face-to-face meetings as she tried to win over Eastern European leaders for positive talks on a future Brexit deal.

Her whirlwind tour to meet prime ministers and presidents took her to Poland and Slovakia, two states determined to maintain free movement.

Today’s meetings come despite EU Commission demands that Brexit discussions do not take place until the UK formally begins the departure process.

Mrs May, pictured, is hoping to use the visits to lay the ground for open discuss i o n s . S l ov a k i a , wh i c h holds the presidency of the EU Council, and Poland have voiced concern over free movement and the refusal so far of Mrs May’s government to guaran- tee the rights of EU nationals already in the UK. Her meetings follow others with the leaders of Ireland, Germany, France and Italy. The former EU commissioner Michel Barnier, who will lead Brexit talks, said no discussions should occur until the UK starts a formal departure by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Barnier, once dubbed the “scourge of the City” for his views on financial regulation, was appointed yesterday by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. But after speaking with Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi yesterday, Mrs May said preparations for an “orderly departure” had begun. She is not expected to trigger Article 50 before the end of the year. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will also meet French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault today. Brexit may be among the issues discussed.