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Brexit: Tusk says UK trade deal not a priority Brexit: Tusk says UK trade deal not a priority
(about 2 hours later)
European Council President Donald Tusk says agreement on "people, money and Ireland" must come before negotiations on the European Union's future relationship with the UK.European Council President Donald Tusk says agreement on "people, money and Ireland" must come before negotiations on the European Union's future relationship with the UK.
Mr Tusk's message came in a letter to 26 other EU leaders - not the UK. Mr Tusk's message came in a letter to 27 other EU leaders - not the UK.
He will chair a summit of the 26 in Brussels on Saturday to try to adopt a joint negotiating position on Brexit. He will chair a summit of the 27 in Brussels on Saturday to try to adopt a joint negotiating position on Brexit.
The UK government has said it does not want to delay talks on future trade relations.The UK government has said it does not want to delay talks on future trade relations.
The EU issued draft guidelines on Brexit on 31 March.The EU issued draft guidelines on Brexit on 31 March.
Official talks will not begin until after the UK general election on 8 June.Official talks will not begin until after the UK general election on 8 June.
Read more:Read more:
Brexit: All you need to knowBrexit: All you need to know
The people who will negotiate BrexitThe people who will negotiate Brexit
Brexit - special reportBrexit - special report
Mr Tusk's letter - calling for a "phased" approach to Brexit - echoed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's priorities, which she set out on Thursday.Mr Tusk's letter - calling for a "phased" approach to Brexit - echoed German Chancellor Angela Merkel's priorities, which she set out on Thursday.
"Before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past," he said, listing three priorities:"Before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past," he said, listing three priorities:
"We will not discuss our future relations with the UK until we have achieved sufficient progress on the main issues relating to the UK's withdrawal from the EU," he said."We will not discuss our future relations with the UK until we have achieved sufficient progress on the main issues relating to the UK's withdrawal from the EU," he said.
EU officials estimate that the UK faces a bill of €60bn (£51bn; $65bn) because of EU budget rules. UK politicians have said the government will not pay a sum of that size.EU officials estimate that the UK faces a bill of €60bn (£51bn; $65bn) because of EU budget rules. UK politicians have said the government will not pay a sum of that size.
Reports say Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny will also ask his EU partners to back the idea of Northern Ireland automatically joining the EU if the province's people vote to unite with the Republic.Reports say Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny will also ask his EU partners to back the idea of Northern Ireland automatically joining the EU if the province's people vote to unite with the Republic.
The UK Brexit Secretary, David Davis, has said that in the event of such a vote, Northern Ireland could become "part of an existing EU member state".The UK Brexit Secretary, David Davis, has said that in the event of such a vote, Northern Ireland could become "part of an existing EU member state".
Brexit timetable:Brexit timetable: