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| Theresa May returns to UK as EU leaders prepare for Brexit 'battle' Theresa May returns to UK as EU leaders prepare for Brexit 'battle' | |
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| Theresa May has returned to London from a European Union summit in Brussels , leaving her fellow leaders to draw up plans to be “battle ready” for Brexit, as they enjoyed a dinner to which she was not invited. | Theresa May has returned to London from a European Union summit in Brussels , leaving her fellow leaders to draw up plans to be “battle ready” for Brexit, as they enjoyed a dinner to which she was not invited. |
| May attended the final meeting of the European council for 2016, and participated in discussions on the refugee crisis, ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine and plans to boost EU defence capabilities. But in a move symbolic of Britain’s separate future, the prime minister then left Brussels to return to the UK. | May attended the final meeting of the European council for 2016, and participated in discussions on the refugee crisis, ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine and plans to boost EU defence capabilities. But in a move symbolic of Britain’s separate future, the prime minister then left Brussels to return to the UK. |
| Earlier, the prime minister was captured in an awkward video, apparently unable to find an ally to talk to, as other EU leaders greeted each other warmly. | Earlier, the prime minister was captured in an awkward video, apparently unable to find an ally to talk to, as other EU leaders greeted each other warmly. |
| On arrival in Brussels, May had welcomed the fact that other EU member-states were discussing Brexit without her, saying: “It is right that other leaders prepare for those negotiations as we have been preparing. | On arrival in Brussels, May had welcomed the fact that other EU member-states were discussing Brexit without her, saying: “It is right that other leaders prepare for those negotiations as we have been preparing. |
| “We will be leaving the EU, we want that to be as smooth and orderly a process as possible, it’s not only in our interests but in the interests of the rest of Europe as well.” | “We will be leaving the EU, we want that to be as smooth and orderly a process as possible, it’s not only in our interests but in the interests of the rest of Europe as well.” |
| Her spokeswoman refused to confirm renewed reports that the EU’s working expectation is for the UK to be hit with a bill of up to £50bn after Brexit for ongoing liabilities, including the cost of EU pensions. “Discussions on how UK taxpayers’ money is spent will be decisions for the UK to take moving forward,” she said. “There’s a whole range of complex issues that need to be resolved in the negotiations.” | Her spokeswoman refused to confirm renewed reports that the EU’s working expectation is for the UK to be hit with a bill of up to £50bn after Brexit for ongoing liabilities, including the cost of EU pensions. “Discussions on how UK taxpayers’ money is spent will be decisions for the UK to take moving forward,” she said. “There’s a whole range of complex issues that need to be resolved in the negotiations.” |
| EU leaders were expected to reaffirm their now familiar red lines on Brexit over the dinner: no negotiations until notification of article 50, and no compromise on the idea that single market membership means accepting free movement of people. | EU leaders were expected to reaffirm their now familiar red lines on Brexit over the dinner: no negotiations until notification of article 50, and no compromise on the idea that single market membership means accepting free movement of people. |
| Since these principles were drawn up in the immediate aftermath of the referendum in late June, the EU has not budged. | Since these principles were drawn up in the immediate aftermath of the referendum in late June, the EU has not budged. |
| “The heads of state or government of 27 member states reconfirmed their statement of 29 June 2016,” states a draft communique to be released after dinner on Thursday. “They reiterated that they stand ready to start negotiations with the UK as soon as the UK has notified under article 50.” | “The heads of state or government of 27 member states reconfirmed their statement of 29 June 2016,” states a draft communique to be released after dinner on Thursday. “They reiterated that they stand ready to start negotiations with the UK as soon as the UK has notified under article 50.” |
| They were also set to rubber-stamp a series of decisions about their plans for negotiating Britain’s exit deal once article 50 is triggered early next year. | They were also set to rubber-stamp a series of decisions about their plans for negotiating Britain’s exit deal once article 50 is triggered early next year. |
| The former French foreign minister, Michel Barnier, is expected to be formally appointed as lead Brexit negotiator – an outcome never really in doubt, as he has access to scores of technical staff at the European commission. | The former French foreign minister, Michel Barnier, is expected to be formally appointed as lead Brexit negotiator – an outcome never really in doubt, as he has access to scores of technical staff at the European commission. |
| But leaders stressed they, not the European parliament, are in charge of talks with the British. The European council “will remain permanently seized” on Brexit, the draft states, and will set up a working group of technical experts to follow the negotiations. | But leaders stressed they, not the European parliament, are in charge of talks with the British. The European council “will remain permanently seized” on Brexit, the draft states, and will set up a working group of technical experts to follow the negotiations. |
| The European parliament’s status as the junior player was also confirmed: MEPs will be invited to join diplomats from the 27 EU member states merely “for an exchange of views” at the start of crucial Brexit preparatory meetings. The parliament’s smaller role means that any promises by MEPs on special status for British citizens should be taken with a pinch of salt. | The European parliament’s status as the junior player was also confirmed: MEPs will be invited to join diplomats from the 27 EU member states merely “for an exchange of views” at the start of crucial Brexit preparatory meetings. The parliament’s smaller role means that any promises by MEPs on special status for British citizens should be taken with a pinch of salt. |
| MEPs reacted furiously after learning they would not have a central role in the EU Brexit process. Martin Schulz, the president of the European parliament, said, “if we are not adequately involved, we may not be able to give our assent” meaning “the UK would face the hardest Brexit possible”. | MEPs reacted furiously after learning they would not have a central role in the EU Brexit process. Martin Schulz, the president of the European parliament, said, “if we are not adequately involved, we may not be able to give our assent” meaning “the UK would face the hardest Brexit possible”. |
| Schulz was speaking at his last EU summit as MEP leader, as he prepares to enter German domestic politics. The EU treaties state that the European parliament must give its consent to Britain’s EU exit deal, but are silent on any negotiating role for MEPs. | Schulz was speaking at his last EU summit as MEP leader, as he prepares to enter German domestic politics. The EU treaties state that the European parliament must give its consent to Britain’s EU exit deal, but are silent on any negotiating role for MEPs. |
| May brushed off questions about whether it could take as long as a decade for Britain to conclude a fresh trade deal with the EU after leaving. | May brushed off questions about whether it could take as long as a decade for Britain to conclude a fresh trade deal with the EU after leaving. |
| Sir Ivan Rogers, May’s top diplomat in Brussels, who conducted David Cameron’s EU renegotiation before the referendum, had warned the government that a deal will not be finalised until the early to mid-2020s, according to the BBC. That deal could still be rejected by any of the 27 national parliaments during the ratification process. | Sir Ivan Rogers, May’s top diplomat in Brussels, who conducted David Cameron’s EU renegotiation before the referendum, had warned the government that a deal will not be finalised until the early to mid-2020s, according to the BBC. That deal could still be rejected by any of the 27 national parliaments during the ratification process. |
| That timing would reflect the “decade of uncertainty” Cameron’s government warned about during the referendum campaign – though it is understood Rogers was reporting back conversations he had with European politicians, rather than giving his own assessment. | That timing would reflect the “decade of uncertainty” Cameron’s government warned about during the referendum campaign – though it is understood Rogers was reporting back conversations he had with European politicians, rather than giving his own assessment. |
| “It is wrong to suggest this is advice from our ambassador to the EU,” a No 10 spokesman said. “Like all ambassadors, part of his role is to report the views of others.” | “It is wrong to suggest this is advice from our ambassador to the EU,” a No 10 spokesman said. “Like all ambassadors, part of his role is to report the views of others.” |
| Speaking later in the House of Commons, Mark Garnier, a trade minister, said Rogers had been reporting the views of “interlocutors”. He admitted it was incredibly difficult to know how long it would take to complete a trade deal but pointed out that one between the US and Jordan had taken just four months. | Speaking later in the House of Commons, Mark Garnier, a trade minister, said Rogers had been reporting the views of “interlocutors”. He admitted it was incredibly difficult to know how long it would take to complete a trade deal but pointed out that one between the US and Jordan had taken just four months. |
| British government officials have told ministers it could take a decade to extricate the UK from EU law, with the domestic legislative agenda likely to be dominated by unwinding EU membership for years to come. | British government officials have told ministers it could take a decade to extricate the UK from EU law, with the domestic legislative agenda likely to be dominated by unwinding EU membership for years to come. |
| But the reports come after the Brexit secretary, David Davis, told a select committee hearing that “everything is negotiable” within a year and a half of the formal article 50 notification in March. The deal would then take about six months to be agreed by European leaders, the European parliament and the British parliament. | But the reports come after the Brexit secretary, David Davis, told a select committee hearing that “everything is negotiable” within a year and a half of the formal article 50 notification in March. The deal would then take about six months to be agreed by European leaders, the European parliament and the British parliament. |