EU praises May Brexit speech as critics complain back home
Johnson and Gove appeased by address
THERESA MAY’S efforts to speed up negotiations over Britain’s future trading relationship with the EU last night drew praise from the Commission’s chief negotiator, despite being subjected to fierce criticism at home.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s Florence speech – in which she set out her vision for post-Brexit arrangements – Michel Barnier welcomed its “constructive spirit”, adding that it demonstrated “a willingness to move forward”.
The address was also praised by members of the Cabinet, with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson describing it as “positive, optimistic and dynamic”.
But critics expressed concern about the lack of detail in Mrs May’s proposals, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accusing the party of wasting time settling internal divisions rather than formulating policy.
Yesterday’s speech comes just weeks ahead of the next meeting of the European Council where EU leaders are expected to decide whether sufficient progress has been made on phase one of Brexit talks to move on to discussions about a future relationship.
This includes guarantees over the future rights of EU nationals living in the UK, a solution to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, and an agreement on outstanding financial obligations.
In a statement after the address, Mr Barnier said Mrs May had “expressed a constructive spirit” and shown “a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence”.
He went on to state that her assurances that any agreement on the right of EU citizens would be incorporated into UK law was a “step forward” and welcomed the acknowledgement that none of the remaining 27 member states should have to “pay more or receive less because of Brexit”.
“We look forward to the United Kingdom’s negotiators explaining the concrete implications of Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech,” he said.
“Our ambition is to find a rapid agreement on the conditions of the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal, as well as on a possible transition period.”
The most notable aspects of the speech included a commitment to a “strictly time limited” transition period and a “bold” new agreement on security, law enforcement and criminal justice co-operation. It also ruled out future membership of the European Economic Area – an option Mrs May warned would “lead to friction” – as well as a Canadianstyle free trade agreement, which the Prime Minister described as restrictive.
This approach appeared to succeed in appeasing hard-line Brexiteers within the Cabinet, with Mr Johnson taking to Twitter to praise a “positive, optimistic and dynamic” speech.
Defra Secretary Michael Gove added: “An excellent speech from the PM in Florence – delivering on the wishes of the British people.”
However, Ukip’s interim leader Steve Crowther said it was “hard to see what in Mrs May’s speech would conceivably move the EU’s position. “Earnest entreaty and good faith is not a negotiating position” he said.
Mr Corbyn claimed the address proved ministers are “still no clearer about what our longterm relationship with the EU will look like” despite the 15 months that have passed since the referendum.
“The only advance seems to be that the Prime Minister has listened to Labour and faced up to the reality that Britain needs a transition on the same basic terms to provide stability for businesses and workers,” the Labour leader said.
“That’s because Theresa May and her Conservative cabinet colleagues are spending more time negotiating with each other rather than with the EU.”
THERESA MAY has confirmed her support for a two-year transition period with the EU as she revealed there is likely to be little change to migration policy immediately after the March 2019 Brexit date.
Delivering a keynote speech in Florence in a bid to jump-start the next phase of negotiations, the Prime Minister appeared to side with Chancellor Philip Hammond as she stressed the need for a deal that minimises the impact on business.
However, in a nod to the demands of high-profile Brexiteers, she also confirmed that any implementation phase would be “strictly limited” and reaffirmed her commitment to ending the jurisdiction of the European Courts.
But there was little clarity on the key issue of the UK’s “divorce bill”, despite pressure to agree a figure before negotiators in Brussels move on to talks of future trade.
Yesterday’s speech was trailed by Number 10 as the Conservative leader’s most significant intervention on Brexit since her Lancaster House address.
Speaking from a cathedral in Florence, Mrs May adopted a more conciliatory tone than in January, ditching her long-running mantra that “no deal is better than a bad deal” in favour of an appeal for both parties to work “respectfully and quickly” to reach an agreement.
“Negotiations... will be difficult. But if we approach them in the right way – respectful of the challenges for both sides and pragmatic about resolving them – we can find a way forward that makes a success of this for all of our peoples,” she said. “If we can do that, then when this chapter of our European history is written, it will be remembered not for the differences we faced but for the vision we showed.”
The days leading up to the speech have been dominated by talk of a Cabinet rift, with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reportedly pushing for a swift exit and an end to single market membership. Mr Johnson and fellow Brexiteer Liam Fox are both understood to favour a future trade deal – similar to that agreed between the EU and Canada – while opposing Norwegian-style membership of the European Economic Area.
This is in contrast to Philip Hammond, who has expressed support for a transition period that would look very similar to the UK’s current relationship with the EU, including on free movement, in order to avoid a cliff-edge for business.
Under pressure to reconcile these two factions in the party, Mrs May yesterday committed to a transition phase incorporating the “existing structure of EU rules and regulations” but with a “strict” time limit of “around two years”. “People, businesses and public services should only have to plan for one set of changes in the relationship between the UK and the EU,” she said. “So during the implementation period access to one another’s markets should continue on current terms and Britain also should continue to take part in existing security measures.”
On the contentious issue of immigration, she admitted that such a transitional arrangement would mean EU citizens “will continue to be able to come and live and work in the UK”. However, it was suggested new arrivals would be required to register, which she said would be “an essential preparation” for the country’s future immigration system.
The address was expected to touch on the equally controversial topic of the UK’s financial obligations to the EU, including the so-called divorce bill, which some have estimated at between €20bn and €50bn.
Brussels has dictated that “sufficient progress” must be made on a settlement before negotiations can move from Britain’s withdrawal to discussions about a future relationship.
Mrs May stated that she was ”conscious” that Brexit was creating “another type of uncertainty” for the remaining member states and their taxpayers “over the EU budget”. But despite repeating her claim that Britain will “honour commitments” and indicating it would pay for continued access to science and education programmes, she did not go as far as specifying a figure.