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| Donald Tusk channels John Lennon in pitch to UK at EU summit | Donald Tusk channels John Lennon in pitch to UK at EU summit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Tusk has used the first summit of EU leaders since the start of the Brexit negotiations to suggest that there is a chance the UK could still remain a member, and has quoted John Lennon to make his point. | |
| In a statement ahead of the meeting in Brussels, the president of the European council deployed the lyrics of Imagine to express his hope – however unlikely – that Britain could change its mind. “We can hear different predictions, coming from different people, about the possible outcome of these negotiations: hard Brexit, soft Brexit or no deal,” Tusk said, of what he described as a difficult process. | |
| “Some of my British friends have even asked me whether Brexit could be reversed, and whether I could imagine an outcome where the UK stays part of the EU. | “Some of my British friends have even asked me whether Brexit could be reversed, and whether I could imagine an outcome where the UK stays part of the EU. |
| “I told them that in fact the European Union was built on dreams that seemed impossible to achieve. So, who knows? You may say I’m a dreamer, but I am not the only one.” | “I told them that in fact the European Union was built on dreams that seemed impossible to achieve. So, who knows? You may say I’m a dreamer, but I am not the only one.” |
| A Number 10 spokesman said in response: “Britain voted to leave the EU on June 23 last year and, as we have been clear all along, we will be delivering the democratic will of the British people.” | |
| Theresa May, who has repeatedly said that she does not share Tusk’s dream that the UK will retain EU membership, is to meet the European council president for a one-on-one on Thursday afternoon ahead of meetings of the full 28 member states, where they will discuss counter-terrorism, migration, trade and defence. | Theresa May, who has repeatedly said that she does not share Tusk’s dream that the UK will retain EU membership, is to meet the European council president for a one-on-one on Thursday afternoon ahead of meetings of the full 28 member states, where they will discuss counter-terrorism, migration, trade and defence. |
| She is then due to set out an overview of the government’s negotiating position on the future rights of European Union citizens living in the UK at a dinner for EU leaders in the evening, before leaving them to continue discussions over coffee without her. | |
| There are significant differences between the two sides on the issue, which were plain on the first day of formal negotiations on Monday, when experts from the UK and the EU had some preliminary talks. | |
| The EU wants all rights currently enjoyed by EU nationals in the UK, and British nationals on the continent and in Ireland, to be protected in perpetuity, as long as they arrived in their adopted homes before Britain leaves the bloc at midnight Brussels time on 29 March 2019. | The EU wants all rights currently enjoyed by EU nationals in the UK, and British nationals on the continent and in Ireland, to be protected in perpetuity, as long as they arrived in their adopted homes before Britain leaves the bloc at midnight Brussels time on 29 March 2019. |
| The UK is likely to suggest that EU nationals residing in Britain are guaranteed the same rights as UK nationals. That would mean future changes in laws affecting British citizens, including in relation to the ability of a spouse from abroad to join them in the UK, would affect EU citizens as well, leaving them potentially in a worse legal position than they are today. | The UK is likely to suggest that EU nationals residing in Britain are guaranteed the same rights as UK nationals. That would mean future changes in laws affecting British citizens, including in relation to the ability of a spouse from abroad to join them in the UK, would affect EU citizens as well, leaving them potentially in a worse legal position than they are today. |
| The British government also opposes the EU’s insistence that the European court of justice, from whose jurisdiction May has said she will remove the UK, should be the arbiter of any future disputes involving the holders of those rights. | The British government also opposes the EU’s insistence that the European court of justice, from whose jurisdiction May has said she will remove the UK, should be the arbiter of any future disputes involving the holders of those rights. |
| Albert Rivera, leader of the liberal Spanish opposition party, Citizens, told the Guardian, following a meeting with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday morning in Brussels, that finding the right mechanism to enforce any deal on citizens could be a stumbling block. | |
| He said: “The problem from my point of view is how do we enforce the agreements between the EU and the UK? It is very easy to say now, in theory, but we have to enforce the agreements with someone who is separating – and that’s very difficult. | He said: “The problem from my point of view is how do we enforce the agreements between the EU and the UK? It is very easy to say now, in theory, but we have to enforce the agreements with someone who is separating – and that’s very difficult. |
| “He [Barnier] said that there must be reciprocity [between the EU and the UK]. I think that’s good. You have to have a rule that’s very clear for citizens in the UK on pensions and rights, and employees. Spain is one of the countries where this is very important. We have a lot of each other’s citizens in each other’s countries.” | “He [Barnier] said that there must be reciprocity [between the EU and the UK]. I think that’s good. You have to have a rule that’s very clear for citizens in the UK on pensions and rights, and employees. Spain is one of the countries where this is very important. We have a lot of each other’s citizens in each other’s countries.” |
| Rivera said he did not believe that the issue of Gibraltar would poison talks, despite the EU’s insistence that any transition agreement or free trade deal for a post-Brexit Britain could only apply to the British overseas territory with Spanish assent. | Rivera said he did not believe that the issue of Gibraltar would poison talks, despite the EU’s insistence that any transition agreement or free trade deal for a post-Brexit Britain could only apply to the British overseas territory with Spanish assent. |
| He said: “All the ministers of foreign affairs have tried to be the minister to get the rock for Spain. But I don’t think that is the correct view. I am sure that in the future the people of Gibraltar can consider if they want co-sovereignty. That’s a problem for the future. You have to seduce not decide for the people. | |
| “We have a problem not with sovereignty but with taxes. It is more important for us regulate the situation with regard to competition and taxes in Gibraltar. I understand that for the Spanish government it is important to be clear about the future on this.” |