7,000 problems to solve before split

BREXIT talks finally begin tomorrow with a staggering 7,000 issues to be agreed.

UK officials have drawn up the huge tally of legal and financial problems that must be solved before Britain leaves the European Union – ranging from the rights of UK expats in Europe to the ‘open skies’ flights agreement and even pet passports.

But the EU fears ministers have still not grasped the scale of the negotiations.

There are concerns the hung Parliament may prevent vital laws being passed, could lead to the DUP demanding changes to the Government’s stance and has led to fresh calls for Brexit to be watered down. A Brussels insider said civil servants in the UK Permanent Representation to the EU office counted ‘over 7,000 issues that need to be addressed’ and ‘people think of new things every day’.

Britain has not submitted a single ‘position paper’ on its aims, although the EU side has, adding to the confusion.

And one senior official on the EU side told The Mail on Sunday Britain had ‘lost’ 70 days of negotiating time by holding the election after triggering Article 50.

The first things to be discussed by Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels tomorrow are the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and the ‘divorce bill’.