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| Theresa May 'optimistic' she can get right Brexit deal for UK | Theresa May 'optimistic' she can get right Brexit deal for UK |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has predicted "difficult moments" ahead in Brexit negotiations but said she is optimistic she can get a deal "that is right for the UK". | Theresa May has predicted "difficult moments" ahead in Brexit negotiations but said she is optimistic she can get a deal "that is right for the UK". |
| Speaking at a summit in Brussels, she said she felt it could be achieved, despite the continuing deadlock over a landmark EU-Canada trade deal . | Speaking at a summit in Brussels, she said she felt it could be achieved, despite the continuing deadlock over a landmark EU-Canada trade deal . |
| Mrs May said she had played an active role in discussions and was not "backwards in coming forwards". | Mrs May said she had played an active role in discussions and was not "backwards in coming forwards". |
| It is her first EU summit since she became PM following the Brexit vote. | It is her first EU summit since she became PM following the Brexit vote. |
| At a news conference before meeting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for a working lunch, Mrs May said Britain would be "a confident, outward-looking country". | At a news conference before meeting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for a working lunch, Mrs May said Britain would be "a confident, outward-looking country". |
| 'Mature relationship' | 'Mature relationship' |
| She said she aimed to "cement Britain as a close partner of the EU once we have left", with the country able to control its immigration but trade freely with the EU. She said she would seek a "mature co-operative relationship" with the EU. | She said she aimed to "cement Britain as a close partner of the EU once we have left", with the country able to control its immigration but trade freely with the EU. She said she would seek a "mature co-operative relationship" with the EU. |
| "I recognise the scale of the challenge ahead. I am sure there will be difficult moments - it will require some give and take. | "I recognise the scale of the challenge ahead. I am sure there will be difficult moments - it will require some give and take. |
| "But I firmly believe that if we approach this in a constructive spirit, as I am, then we can deliver a smooth departure and build a powerful new relationship that works both for the UK and for the countries of the EU, looking for opportunities, not problems." | "But I firmly believe that if we approach this in a constructive spirit, as I am, then we can deliver a smooth departure and build a powerful new relationship that works both for the UK and for the countries of the EU, looking for opportunities, not problems." |
| Asked whether the difficulties over Ceta - an EU-Canada trade deal that has stalled because one Belgian region has objected - might affect a UK post-Brexit deal, Mrs May said she was "not looking to adopt a model that another country has" but was seeking a new relationship with the European Union. | Asked whether the difficulties over Ceta - an EU-Canada trade deal that has stalled because one Belgian region has objected - might affect a UK post-Brexit deal, Mrs May said she was "not looking to adopt a model that another country has" but was seeking a new relationship with the European Union. |
| "Obviously we have got negotiations ahead... those negotiations will take time, as I say, there will be some difficult moments, it will need some give and take but I'm optimistic that we can achieve a deal that is right for the UK because I actually think the deal that is right for the UK will also be right for the European Union." | "Obviously we have got negotiations ahead... those negotiations will take time, as I say, there will be some difficult moments, it will need some give and take but I'm optimistic that we can achieve a deal that is right for the UK because I actually think the deal that is right for the UK will also be right for the European Union." |
| The prime minister arrived for the two-day summit on Thursday. She was given a few minutes at the end of a working dinner on Thursday to talk about the latest Brexit news - which was reportedly met with silence by other EU leaders. | The prime minister arrived for the two-day summit on Thursday. She was given a few minutes at the end of a working dinner on Thursday to talk about the latest Brexit news - which was reportedly met with silence by other EU leaders. |
| BBC correspondent Damian Grammaticas said Mrs May had received a "pretty good reception" and other EU leaders had been "pretty complimentary" about her but she had only had five minutes to talk about Brexit at 1am - the UK's departure from the EU is not on the main agenda at the summit. | BBC correspondent Damian Grammaticas said Mrs May had received a "pretty good reception" and other EU leaders had been "pretty complimentary" about her but she had only had five minutes to talk about Brexit at 1am - the UK's departure from the EU is not on the main agenda at the summit. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused the prime minister of a "haphazard" approach to Brexit in her own cabinet, adding: "It's not surprising she is struggling to convince other European leaders that this will be anything like the 'smooth withdrawal' her office is briefing. | Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused the prime minister of a "haphazard" approach to Brexit in her own cabinet, adding: "It's not surprising she is struggling to convince other European leaders that this will be anything like the 'smooth withdrawal' her office is briefing. |
| "Instead of putting the views of a minority of hardline Tory Brexiteers first, our prime minister should be doing what's right for the British people. This means remaining in the single market, maintaining cross-border security and ensuring that Brexit leaves nobody worse off." | "Instead of putting the views of a minority of hardline Tory Brexiteers first, our prime minister should be doing what's right for the British people. This means remaining in the single market, maintaining cross-border security and ensuring that Brexit leaves nobody worse off." |
| 'Immigration debate' | 'Immigration debate' |
| Meanwhile the man seen as front-runner to replace French President Francois Hollande, Alain Juppe, has said he would revoke a treaty that allows UK border officials to check passports in Calais - known as Le Touquet - should he be elected president next year. | Meanwhile the man seen as front-runner to replace French President Francois Hollande, Alain Juppe, has said he would revoke a treaty that allows UK border officials to check passports in Calais - known as Le Touquet - should he be elected president next year. |
| The former French PM blamed the 2003 agreement for the creation of the "Jungle" encampment and said: "We cannot accept making the selection on French territory of people that Britain does or doesn't want. It's up to Britain to do that job." | The former French PM blamed the 2003 agreement for the creation of the "Jungle" encampment and said: "We cannot accept making the selection on French territory of people that Britain does or doesn't want. It's up to Britain to do that job." |
| He added: "A debate must be opened and a new accord obtained with Britain." | He added: "A debate must be opened and a new accord obtained with Britain." |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also in Brussels, where he held talks on the sidelines of the European Council with politicians including Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Party of European Socialists president Sergei Stanishev. He invited socialist EU politicians to London for a meeting in February about Brexit. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also in Brussels, where he held talks on the sidelines of the European Council with politicians including Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Party of European Socialists president Sergei Stanishev. He invited socialist EU politicians to London for a meeting in February about Brexit. |
| Formal exit negotiations will not begin until Mrs May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, something she has said will be done by the end of March 2017. | Formal exit negotiations will not begin until Mrs May triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, something she has said will be done by the end of March 2017. |
| This means Brexit, backed in a UK-wide referendum in June, is likely to take effect by the summer of 2019. | This means Brexit, backed in a UK-wide referendum in June, is likely to take effect by the summer of 2019. |