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Theresa May: We'll still work closely with EU Theresa May: We'll still work closely with EU after Brexit
(about 2 hours later)
Theresa May has pledged to continue to "work closely" with the EU after Brexit, as she arrived for her first Brussels summit as prime minister.Theresa May has pledged to continue to "work closely" with the EU after Brexit, as she arrived for her first Brussels summit as prime minister.
She said it was important to have a "united European stance" against "Russian aggression", including "sickening" violence in Syria.She said it was important to have a "united European stance" against "Russian aggression", including "sickening" violence in Syria.
The PM, who will trigger Brexit talks by the end of March, is expected to tell counterparts she wants a "smooth, constructive, orderly" Brexit. The PM is expected to call for a "smooth, constructive, orderly" Brexit.
EU leaders will attend a dinner later. The European Council president likened the summit to a "nest of doves", adding Mrs May would be "absolutely safe".
Once Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered, two years of formal negotiations will begin, with the UK set to leave the EU by the summer of 2019. The 28 EU leaders taking part in the meeting will hold a working dinner on Thursday, during and after which Brexit is likely to be discussed.
The Brussels summit, which brings together the leaders of EU member states, is not focused on the UK's withdrawal, with the official agenda instead dominated by migration, trade and Russia. The prime minister has promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - beginning two years of formal exit negotiations with the EU - by the end of next March. This means Brexit, backed in a UK-wide referendum in June, will take place by the summer of 2019.
The prime minister was keen to emphasise this as she spoke to reporters when she arrived in Brussels, saying: "I'm here with a clear message. The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we will be a strong and dependable partner after we have left. The Brussels summit is not focused on the UK's withdrawal, with the official agenda instead dominated by migration, trade and relations with Russia.
The prime minister was keen to emphasise this when she arrived in Brussels, saying: "I'm here with a clear message. The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we will be a strong and dependable partner after we have left.
"It's in the interests of both the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together, including at this summit.""It's in the interests of both the UK and the EU that we continue to work closely together, including at this summit."
She added: "We must continue that robust and united European stance in the face of Russian aggression." She added: "We must continue that robust and united European stance in the face of Russian aggression." It was "vital" to "put pressure on Russia to stop its appalling atrocities, its sickening atrocities, in Syria", the prime minister said.
The prime minister said the UK had "put Russian aggression in Syria on the agenda for the summit. We must continue to work together and it's vital that we work together to continue to put pressure on Russia to stop its appalling atrocities, its sickening atrocities, in Syria." Several European leaders have questioned whether the UK can continue to have access to the European single market once it leaves the EU, particularly as this is likely to mean greater controls on immigration from within Europe.
But Brexit is still expected to loom large at the summit, particularly at a working dinner on Thursday night, where Mrs May is expected to be invited to talk about it over coffee. European Council President Donald Tusk has insisted no formal talks between the UK and the EU can start until Article 50 is invoked.
She will tell other leaders that "hard work and goodwill" was needed on both sides during negotiations to secure a smooth UK departure from the EU, a Downing Street source said. 'Hard work'
EU leaders have said no talks can happen until Article 50 is triggered, with European Council president Donald Tusk recently saying the EU would not compromise on its insistence that freedom of movement will be a condition for Britain's access to the single market. But he offered summit debutante Mrs May some words of encouragement: "Some media described her first meeting in the European Council as entering the lion's den. It's not true. It's more like a nest of doves.
"Just look at me - I think it's obvious also for you. You can be sure she will be absolutely safe with us."
At the working dinner Mrs May is expected to be invited to talk about Brexit over coffee. She will tell leaders that "hard work and goodwill" are needed on both sides during negotiations to secure a smooth UK departure from the EU, a Downing Street source said.
At home, the government is facing fierce criticism from opposition parties - and a landmark legal challenge - over its refusal to offer MPs a vote on its Brexit strategy before triggering Article 50.At home, the government is facing fierce criticism from opposition parties - and a landmark legal challenge - over its refusal to offer MPs a vote on its Brexit strategy before triggering Article 50.
Ministers say they welcome scrutiny but do not want MPs and peers to micro-manage the process or compromise the government's negotiating hand.Ministers say they welcome scrutiny but do not want MPs and peers to micro-manage the process or compromise the government's negotiating hand.
Speaking in the Commons, Brexit Secretary David Davis said that he wanted Parliament to be "involved throughout" the process, but added: "There will be a balance to be struck between transparency and good negotiating practice, and I am confident we can strike that balance."Speaking in the Commons, Brexit Secretary David Davis said that he wanted Parliament to be "involved throughout" the process, but added: "There will be a balance to be struck between transparency and good negotiating practice, and I am confident we can strike that balance."
He added that "much information" would be put out in the next few months, "and the House will be in no doubt what our aims and strategic objectives are". 'Unprecedented complexity'
'Find middle ground'
A vote is expected in 2019 on the final deal reached after the talks. But critics say they are being offered a choice between the government's deal or no deal at all as, by this stage, the UK would be on the verge of leaving the EU.A vote is expected in 2019 on the final deal reached after the talks. But critics say they are being offered a choice between the government's deal or no deal at all as, by this stage, the UK would be on the verge of leaving the EU.
Labour MP Hilary Benn, who has been elected chairman of the Commons committee overseeing scrutiny of Brexit, said it was "inconceivable" Parliament would not have a say at that stage.Labour MP Hilary Benn, who has been elected chairman of the Commons committee overseeing scrutiny of Brexit, said it was "inconceivable" Parliament would not have a say at that stage.
He told the BBC: "I'm very clear that Parliament will want to have a say both in scrutinising what the negotiating plan is when it is published, but also Parliament will want to take a decision on the final deal."He told the BBC: "I'm very clear that Parliament will want to have a say both in scrutinising what the negotiating plan is when it is published, but also Parliament will want to take a decision on the final deal."
In a report published on Thursday, the House of Lords EU committee said Parliament should vote on the government's negotiation strategy before Article 50, predicting the talks would be "unprecedented in their complexity and their impact upon domestic policy".In a report published on Thursday, the House of Lords EU committee said Parliament should vote on the government's negotiation strategy before Article 50, predicting the talks would be "unprecedented in their complexity and their impact upon domestic policy".
"While the government has an obligation, following the referendum, to deliver Brexit, it seems to us inconceivable that it should take the many far-reaching policy decisions that will arise in the course of Brexit without active parliamentary scrutiny," it said. Leading Brexit campaigner and former Conservative cabinet minister Owen Paterson said Article 50 was simply the "mechanism" to implement the EU referendum result.
The committee called on the government to "recognise a middle ground between the extremes of micromanagement and mere accountability after the fact".
Referring to the government's refusal to offer a "running commentary" on talks, committee chairman Lord Boswell said: "What they offer instead, namely parliamentary scrutiny after the fact, is in reality not scrutiny at all - it could be no more than a rubber stamp. That is not good enough."
Leading Brexit campaigner and former cabinet minister Owen Paterson said Article 50 was simply the "mechanism" to implement the EU referendum result.
"Peers or MPs calling for a vote so they can draw out proceedings in the hope that they can somehow overturn the outcome is an attempt to subvert the verdict the people gave [in the referendum] on 23 June," he said."Peers or MPs calling for a vote so they can draw out proceedings in the hope that they can somehow overturn the outcome is an attempt to subvert the verdict the people gave [in the referendum] on 23 June," he said.
He said both Houses would be voting "repeatedly" on the government's Great Repeal Bill to deal with EU legislation, adding: "Suggesting the government is trying to avoid scrutiny is nonsense."