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Brexit: EU-27 agree negotiating stance Brexit: EU-27 agree 'firm' negotiating stance
(35 minutes later)
European Union leaders have unanimously agreed the negotiating guidelines for Brexit talks with UK.European Union leaders have unanimously agreed the negotiating guidelines for Brexit talks with UK.
European Council President Donald Tusk, chairing the talks in Brussels, tweeted that the "firm and fair political mandate" for the talks was ready.European Council President Donald Tusk, chairing the talks in Brussels, tweeted that the "firm and fair political mandate" for the talks was ready.
The 27 leaders - UK PM Theresa May was not present - approved within a minute the guidelines first issued on 31 March by Mr Tusk.The 27 leaders - UK PM Theresa May was not present - approved within a minute the guidelines first issued on 31 March by Mr Tusk.
Talks with the UK will begin after the general election on 8 June. Talks with the UK will begin after the general election there on 8 June.
The deadline for completing the negotiations is 29 March 2019.The deadline for completing the negotiations is 29 March 2019.
EU officials said leaders burst into applause as the negotiating stance was waved through.EU officials said leaders burst into applause as the negotiating stance was waved through.
The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said: "We are ready... we are together."The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said: "We are ready... we are together."
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The people who will negotiate BrexitThe people who will negotiate Brexit
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In a letter to the leaders of the EU-27 ahead of the summit, Mr Tusk wrote that progress on "people, money and Ireland" must come before negotiations on the EU's future relationship with the UK. The guidelines set out that separation talks will agree the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, as well as Britons living in the EU, plus a settlement for the UK's financial obligations as an EU member state. A deal must also be agreed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
As she arrived in Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated that only once substantial progress had been made on the separation talks with the UK could negotiations turn to the UK's future relationship with the EU. Only once "sufficient progress" has been made these issues can the subject of the UK's future relationship with the EU be discussed, according to the guidelines.
EU states adamant: Kevin Connolly, BBC Europe correspondent Speaking after the summit, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker again stressed that separation talks could not run in parallel with talks on a future trade deal with the UK.
Europe's leaders came to demonstrate unity in the face of the Brexit challenge and they duly did. However, the UK government has pushed for parallel negotiations.
They even announced that it only took them a minute to agree their negotiating guidelines. That's not a big surprise - today's gathering in Brussels was always going to be an exercise in rubber-stamping. But stressing how quickly it went through on the nod reinforces the point. Mr Tusk also called on Britain to provide "real guarantees for our people to live, work and study in the UK" and similar reassurance for UK citizens living in the EU-27.
The 27 EU Remainer states are adamant that Britain will pay a price for leaving and will be worse off outside than the union than it is on the inside. "So many people's lives depend on it," he told reporters.
Britain certainly won't tamely accept that it has to pay a huge divorce bill - but it's likely to find the Europeans united on the concept if not the precise amount. Common purpose: Chris Morris in Brussels
The EU's unity might be tested on the issue of the rights of its citizens in the UK, where countries like Poland and Lithuania - which are directly affected - might want a better deal that richer countries which are not. The fact that the guidelines approved today haven't changed all that much in the past month shows that the EU's claim to have a unified position on Brexit is more than skin deep.
The separation talks will seek to agree the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, as well as Britons living in the EU, plus a settlement for the UK's financial obligations as an EU member state. A deal must also be agreed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Mr Tusk wrote. The other 27 countries do see a common purpose in sticking together; and if anything the main changes in language - on a single financial settlement and on the rights of EU citizens in the UK - toughen up the conditions that the UK will have to meet.
However, the UK government has said made clear that it wants talks on trade relations to run in parallel with the separation negotiations. Of course there are differences of emphasis in different national capitals - Poland is understandably more concerned than most about the rights of its citizens in the UK because there are so many of them; the Dutch are eager to start talks on future trade relations with the UK sooner rather than later, but they also want to ensure that the UK pays its divorce bill in full.
French President Francois Hollande said there would inevitably be "a price and a cost for the UK - it's the choice that was made". For now the emphasis on unity is real, and the determination for the EU to negotiate as one should not be underestimated in London.
Speaking earlier, French President Francois Hollande said there would inevitably be "a price and a cost for the UK - it's the choice that was made".
"We must not be punitive, but at the same time it's clear that Europe knows how to defend its interests, and that Britain the UK will have a less good position tomorrow outside the EU than today in the EU.""We must not be punitive, but at the same time it's clear that Europe knows how to defend its interests, and that Britain the UK will have a less good position tomorrow outside the EU than today in the EU."
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. On the issue of the UK's financial obligations, EU officials estimate that Britain 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. Britain certainly won't tamely accept that it has to pay a huge divorce bill - but it's likely to find the Europeans united on the concept if not the precise amount, the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Brussels says.
Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny was also expected to 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.
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".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: