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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Theresa May: We'll still work closely with EU after Brexit | Theresa May: We'll still work closely with EU after Brexit |
| (about 4 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" that included "sickening" violence in Syria. | |
| European Council President Donald Tusk called the summit a "nest of doves". | |
| But French President Francois Hollande warned if Mrs May pursued a "hard Brexit", negotiations would be hard. | |
| 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 | |
| Mrs May is expected to call for a "smooth, constructive, orderly" Brexit. | |
| 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 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 Brussels summit is not focused on the UK's withdrawal, with the official agenda instead dominated by migration, trade and relations with Russia. | 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. | 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." It was "vital" to "put pressure on Russia to stop its appalling atrocities, its sickening atrocities, in Syria", the prime minister said. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| European Council President Donald Tusk has insisted no formal talks between the UK and the EU can start until Article 50 is invoked. | European Council President Donald Tusk has insisted no formal talks between the UK and the EU can start until Article 50 is invoked. |
| 'Hard work' | 'Hard work' |
| 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. | 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." | "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 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. |
| Arriving at the summit, French President Francois Hollande said: "I say very firmly, (if) Mrs May wants a hard Brexit, the negotiations will be hard." | |
| 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." |
| 'Unprecedented complexity' | 'Unprecedented complexity' |
| 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". |