EU’s conditions for Britain’s exit

TALKS: ON HOLD UNTIL ‘SUFFICIENT PROGRESS’ IS MADE

A ‘phased approach’ has been called for to prioritise orderly withdrawl.

deal after Britain’s exit in March 2019, but that such an arrangement would have to be under EU rules.

British Prime Minister Theresa May had, in her letter triggering the two-year exit process, on Wednesday called for talks on the divorce and a future deal to run in parallel as soon as negotiations start.

The EU has proclaimed its unity on Brexit, even as it reels from Britain’s intention to become the first member state to leave in the bloc’s 60-year history.

Tusk’s strategy will now be sent out to the leaders of the 27 remaining EU countries ahead of a special summit on April 29 when they will agree on them so that talks can start in May.

Germany and France had already set out a united and uncompromising stance against May’s demands.

Tusk’s guidelines say that the EU called for a “phased approach” that prioritises an orderly withdrawal that reduces the disruption caused by Britain’s departure in March 2019.

“The European Council will monitor progress closely and determine when sufficient progress has been achieved to allow negotiations to proceed to the next phase on a future relationship,” the draft guidelines say.

The EU said that no trade deal can be agreed on before Brexit takes effect. – AFP

Picture: AFP This artist’s handout released by Nasa depicts the early Martian environment with liquid water, right, versus the cold, dry environment seen at Mars today.