May calls for amicable divorce

British PM seeks 2-year transition after Brexit to maintain current EU ties

Florence (Italy), Sept. 22: Prime Minister Theresa May called on Friday for Britain to stay in the European Union’s (EU) single market during a roughly two-year transition out of the bloc while offering concessions on a divorce deal as she appealed for a revival of Brexit negotiations.

In a speech in a 14th century church in Florence, Ms May spent much of the speech drawing on the similar values of Britain and the rest of the EU. She said if the complicated talks to unravel more than 40 years of union should fail, the only beneficiaries would be those who oppose democracy, liberalism and free trade.

Ms May promised to meet Britain’s existing EU Budget commitments until 2020 and outlined new legal guarantees for the rights of around three million Europeans living in the UK. She also committed to maintaining Europe’s security saying in a direct pitch to EU leaders, “We want to be your strongest friend and partner as the EU and UK thrive side by side.”

A fourth round of negotiations with the European Commission is due to start next week with London keen to make progress on the terms of the divorce so that talks can move on to trade.

“While the UK’s departure from the EU is inevitably a difficult process, it is in all of our interests for our negotiations to succeed.”

The pound weakened about half-a-penny against the euro and three-quarters of a cent against the dollar during her speech underlining the sensitivity of the talks to markets and firms, some of which fear Britain could crash out of the bloc without a deal.

Britain’s contributions for two years would be, at least, 20 billion euros (£18 billion) although this falls well below European estimates of Britain’s total Brexit bill.

With new offers on money and citizens’ rights, Ms May addressed two of the three priorities of the EU.

“Theresa May’s Brexit vision is that we leave the EU in name only. All areas of integration we have currently will be rebadged,” said leading campaigner Nigel Farage.

On the issue of EU citizens’ rights, Ms May sought to break the deadlock over the role of the European Court of Justice as the arbiter in any disputes.

She said the final deal agreed with Brussels would be fully incorporated into British law to ensure parliament could not change it in the future.

British courts could also “take into account” ECJ rulings in deciding cases, she said.

I look ahead with optimism believing that if we use this moment to change not just our relationship with Europe but also the way we do things at home, this will be a defining moment in the history of our nation — THERESA MAY, Britain’s Prime...