‘NO TRADE DEAL BEFORE TERMS ARE SET’:
EUROPEAN LEADERS look set to resist Theresa May’s push to open trade talks immediately as part of the Brexit process.
Senior figures queued up to insist that progress must be made on agreeing the terms of the UK’s departure before the future trade relationship can be discussed.
Guarantees on the future rights of EU citizens already living and working in the UK and a settlement over this country’s liabilities – a sum put by some Brussels officials at £50bn – look set to be the minimum requirements before discussions on trade will be entertained.
A statement from the European Council, representing the leaders of the remaining 27 member states, said it wanted to “minimise the uncertainty” caused by Brexit which would mean “focusing on all key arrangements for an orderly withdrawal”.
Speaking moments after receiving the letter triggering Article 50, European Council president Donald Tusk said Brexit had made the other EU countries “more determined and more united than before”.
He added: “There is nothing to win in this process, and I am talking about both sides. In essence, this is about damage control.
“Our goal is clear: to minimise the costs for the EU citizens, businesses and Member States. We will do everything in our power – and we have all the tools – to achieve this goal.”
Mr Tusk pointed to the fact “almost half” of UK voters backed remaining in the EU.
“There is no reason to pretend that this is a happy day, neither in Brussels, nor in London,” he said.
The European Parliament, which will have a vote on the terms of Brexit, also signalled its priority is agreeing the details of Britain’s departure rather than a trade deal.
The Conference of Presidents, made up of party leaders in the Parliament, have supported a resolution which will be debated by all members next week declaring that the benefits of being a member of the EU cannot be the same for a country which leaves the EU.
It warns the UK against negotiating possible trade deals with other countries prior to Brexit and calls for its “sincere co-operation” before it leaves.
Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament, said: “An orderly exit is an absolute requirement and a precondition for any potential future EU-UK partnership. “This is not negotiable.” Mrs May has already said she wants an early agreement on the future rights of EU citizens and wants similar promises to be made to UK citizens living on the continent.
With European leaders also prioritising the issue, the success or otherwise of the two sides to reach quick agreement is likely to set the tone for the rest of the negotiations.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator, said: “For us, it is an absolute priority to settle citizens’ rights as soon as possible.
“It needs to be the first issue to be tackled in the negotiations. Citizens should not become bargaining chips.”
Europe’s formal response to the UK’s letter triggering article 50 will not be finalised until after a special European Council summit of EU leaders next month.
However, Mr Tusk is set to publish his draft proposal on Friday which will give a strong indication of the stance to be taken by the EU.
The eventual terms of Britain’s departure will have to be agreed by 20 of the 27 remaining EU leaders.
There is nothing to win. In essence, this is about damage control. Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, after receiving the Brexit letter.