‘New dynamic’ to talks after 27 clear way for progress

Brexit: New guidelines approved in 30 seconds

Theresa May has said Britain will enter negotiations on its future relationship with the EU in “a spirit of co-operation”, after leaders of the remaining 27 member states cleared the way for trade talks to begin.

The EU27 opened the door by endorsing a deal on Britain’s 21-month transition to Brexit and approving guidelines designed to deliver a “balanced, ambitious and wide-ranging” free trade agreement.

The decision at the European Council summit in Brussels sets the scene for intensive and complex talks on trade and security after withdrawal.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that it took “less than half a minute” for the guidelines to be approved, in a demonstration of the “united front of the member states, the 27”. Mrs May said she felt there was now “a new dynamic” in the negotiations.

“I believe we are approaching this with a spirit of co-operation, a spirit of opportunity for the future as well, and we will now be sitting down and determining those workable solutions for Northern Ireland, but also for our future security partnership and economic partnership,” she said.

Confirmation of the transition period stretching from Brexit Day in March 2019 to the end of December 2020 will provide “certainty” for businesses and individuals, she said.

But the negotiating guidelines agreed in Mrs May’s absence in Brussels include elements certain to spark rancour.

A reference to Gibraltar was added at the last minute, in apparent deference to Spain, which has a veto on the future of the British overseas territory.

And the guidelines insist EU negotiators should seek to maintain “existing reciprocal access” to fishing waters, which is likely to be fiercely resisted on the Conservative backbenches.

The EU document also envisages “ambitious provisions on movement of natural persons, based on full reciprocity and nondiscrimination among member states”.

The guidelines called for the EU to have “as close as possible a partnership” with the UK covering trade and economic co-operation as well as terrorism, crime, security, defence and foreign policy.

“I believe we are approaching this with a spirit of co-operation”