Prime Minister tells EU leaders UK is committed to European defence
Theresa May has sought to reassure EU leaders that Britain remains “unconditionally” committed to the collective defence of Europe, despite leaving the bloc.
The Prime Minister, in Estonia for an EU digital summit, said the UK would continue to provide assistance to states which were victims of armed aggression, terrorism or natural disasters.
Her comments echo her Florence speech last week, when she held out the prospect of a comprehensive security agreement with the EU in her effort to unlock the stalled Brexit negotiations.
However, British hopes that her initiative would enable the talks to move swiftly on to the second phase - including a post-brexit trade deal received a fresh setback after European Commission president Jean-claude Juncker said it would require “miracles” if they were ready to start before the end of October.
“By the end of October we will not have sufficient progress. At the end of this week I am saying that there will be no sufficient progress from now until October unless miracles would happen,” he told reporters in Tallinn.
Mr Barnier is expected to meet Brexit Secretary David Davis in Brussels for the start of a fifth round of negotiations on 9 October.