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Brexit: Theresa May wants early deal on Britons in EU Brexit: Theresa May wants early deal on Britons in EU
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May wants an early deal on what Brexit means for the status of Britons in Europe and EU citizens in the UK, she has told EU leaders. Theresa May has told EU leaders that she wants an early deal in Brexit negotiations on the status of Britons in Europe and EU citizens in the UK .
The prime minister's comments came as she updated fellow leaders on the UK's plans for leaving the European Union. The PM attended a summit of EU leaders in Brussels before leaving while they discussed their approach to Brexit.
There has been concern in other countries about the status of their nationals in the UK after Brexit. The remaining 27 agreed that the European Commission will take the lead role in negotiations.
Meanwhile, EU leaders said negotiations over the UK's exit would be approached in "a spirit of trust and unity". Meanwhile Chancellor Philip Hammond has played down suggestions it could take ten years to reach a trade deal.
Mrs May made the comments during an European Council summit meeting in Brussels on Thursday. He told the BBC: "I don't expect that it will take as long as that," following reports that Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers, suggested that others in Europe believed this could be the case.
But the prime minister was not invited to join the 27 other EU leaders who later met for a dinner to discuss their approach to Brexit negotiations. The prime minister was in Brussels on Thursday for a European Council meeting. She left the summit without answering any questions on Brexit but Irish PM Enda Kenny told reporters that she had given an update on the Supreme Court case the UK government is involved with on whether it can act alone in triggering Article 50 - the formal start of Brexit.
Pictures from the summit appeared to show Mrs May looking as though she had no one to talk to, however German MP Stephan Mayer said reports of her being frozen out by other leaders were "misleading". He added: "She would like to have the question of UK citizens living in Europe and European citizens living in the UK dealt with in the early part of discussions that take place."
Mr Mayer, who is Home Affairs spokesperson for the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was "reasonable" for the 27 EU leaders to meet without Mrs May. The question of what will happen to the estimated 2.9 million citizens of other EU countries who have made their home in the UK in recent years is one of the most controversial arising from the UK's vote to leave the EU in June's referendum.
Meanwhile, the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said: "As for the summit itself, it has to be pointed out that in all fairness, Theresa May looks like Belinda No Mates - she has nobody to talk to - but if you look at other clips she is chatting to others." 'Misleading'
Mrs May left the summit without answering any questions on the UK's break with the EU. The government has said it expects an early resolution of the issue once official talks on the terms of the UK's separation from the EU begin, something it plans to happen by next spring.
However, Irish PM Enda Kenny revealed what Mrs May had told them, saying: "She would like to have the question of UK citizens living in Europe and European citizens living in the UK dealt with in the early part of discussions that take place." But it has not given any guarantees on their future status - saying this is impossible without similar safeguards for the estimated 1.2 million Britons living in Spain, France, Italy and other EU countries.
Mr Kenny also said the Irish Republic would not sign a bilateral deal with the UK and the UK had to agree its future relationship with the EU first. Mr Kenny also told reporters that the Irish Republic would not sign a bilateral trade deal with the UK and the UK had to agree its future relationship with the EU first.
They agreed that European Commission official Michel Barnier will lead talks for the EU - although MEPs are said to want a greater say. Pictures from the summit which circulated on social media appeared to show Mrs May looking as though she had no one to talk to. However the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said other clips showed her chatting to EU leaders while German MP Stephan Mayer said reports of the PM being frozen out were "misleading".
Mr Mayer, who is home affairs spokesperson for the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was "reasonable" for the 27 EU leaders to meet without Mrs May, following the formal summit, to discuss their approach to Brexit.
The 27 agreed that European Commission official Michel Barnier will lead talks for the EU - although MEPs are said to want a greater say.
European Council president Donald Tusk said the "short, informal meeting" had "reconfirmed our principles, meaning the indivisibility of the four freedoms, the balance of rights and obligations and the rule 'no negotiations without notification'".European Council president Donald Tusk said the "short, informal meeting" had "reconfirmed our principles, meaning the indivisibility of the four freedoms, the balance of rights and obligations and the rule 'no negotiations without notification'".
European Parliament president Martin Schulz has warned that negotiations could be vetoed if MEPs are not fully involved.European Parliament president Martin Schulz has warned that negotiations could be vetoed if MEPs are not fully involved.
Downing Street has played down suggestions that a Brexit trade deal could take 10 years to complete, after Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers, suggested that others in Europe believed this could be the case.
Speaking in South Korea, Chancellor Philip Hammond told the BBC that he hoped a deal could be done "in a reasonable period of amount of time".
Downing Street meanwhile has indicated that it would be possible to complete a "divorce deal" and a new trade agreement with the EU within the timetabled two years of the UK invoking Article 50 - the formal start of the process of leaving.Downing Street meanwhile has indicated that it would be possible to complete a "divorce deal" and a new trade agreement with the EU within the timetabled two years of the UK invoking Article 50 - the formal start of the process of leaving.
But Germany's Mr Mayer said that it would be "a bit naive" to think a trade deal could be done in two years.But Germany's Mr Mayer said that it would be "a bit naive" to think a trade deal could be done in two years.
He said: "It's not easy to make this trade agreement within two years. There is a clear German position - we want negotiations on a level playing field and certainly we would like that Great Britain stays a very important pillar in the single market.
"It's very ambitious to finish these negotiations within two years, it's a huge project.""It's very ambitious to finish these negotiations within two years, it's a huge project."
Chancellor Philip Hammond told the BBC the UK would negotiate a Brexit deal and, once that has started, would "in parallel" begin to negotiate new trade arrangements with the EU.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Britain could face a £50bn bill to leave the EU, including payments to cover pension liabilities for EU staff.Meanwhile, reports suggest that Britain could face a £50bn bill to leave the EU, including payments to cover pension liabilities for EU staff.
Downing Street said the UK would meet its obligations while in the EU, but any financial settlement after that would be a matter for negotiation.Downing Street said the UK would meet its obligations while in the EU, but any financial settlement after that would be a matter for negotiation.
At the summit, the leaders also discussed controlling mass migration into Europe, the EU's relationship with Ukraine, co-operation with Nato and economic matters. At the summit, the leaders also discussed Syria, controlling mass migration into Europe, the EU's relationship with Ukraine, co-operation with Nato and economic matters.
Syria aid
Mrs May said they had also discussed "the appalling situation in Syria".
"We heard from the mayor of eastern Aleppo, he had one plea for us - to allow the safe evacuation of the people in the city," she said.
"President Assad and his backers - Russia and Iran - bear responsibility for the tragedy in Aleppo, they must now allow the United Nations to ensure the safe evacuation of the civilians who are left there."
She announced that the UK is to provide £20m of further aid for the most vulnerable in Aleppo.