Tusk tells Britain to pay up for a ‘good basis’ for future

DONALD TUSK has told Britain to pay its Brexit divorce bill for the sake of “future relations” with the EU as he rubbished suggestions that Brussels might end up owing money to the UK.

The president of the European Council poured cold water on suggestions by ministers including David Davis and Boris Johnson that Britain will be in credit when the final bill is worked out, saying: “It’s not about money, it’s about rules.”

He also said President Donald Trump had agreed with him when he told him the remaining 27 EU member states are “stronger after Brexit than before”.

Mr Tusk, who is attending the G7 summit in Sicily, was asked by The Daily Telegraph whether he agreed that Britain was owed money by Brussels, rather than the other way around. He said: “No, we have to respect our obligations and I think it’s not about money, it’s about rules and also it’s about a good basis for our future relations.”

Mr Tusk said: “I was positively surprised by President Trump’s comments on Brexit, because it was clear for both of us that in fact the EU as 27 is more united after Brexit than before Brexit and it was also his opinion.”

He added: “Counter-terrorism was one of the main topics during our discussion with President Trump. I was impressed by the determination and toughness of President Trump when it comes to counter-terrorism.

“I totally agreed with him when he said that the international community, G7, the United States, Europe, should be tough, even brutal vis a vis terrorism and Isis.”