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Brexit: Theresa May sets out UK offer to break deadlock Theresa May urges EU to retain trade terms for two years after Brexit
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May has set out proposals for a two-year transition period after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019. PM Theresa May has said there should be a two-year transition period after Brexit, during which trade should continue on current terms.
She wants existing EU market access arrangements to apply during that period and promised Britain would pay its "fair share" into the EU budget. EU migrants will still be able to live and work in the UK but they will have register with the authorities, under her proposals.
She said the UK will be the "strongest friend and partner" of the EU after Brexit. And the UK will pay into the EU budget so member states are not left out of pocket.
The speech in Italy was aimed at breaking the deadlock in Brexit talks, due to resume on Monday. She hopes this offer, made in a speech in Italy, will unblock Brexit talks.
The deal she proposed could include payments worth 20bn euros (about £18bn) over the two years. The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier described the speech as "constructive" and said the prime minister had shown "a willingness to move forward".
The PM proposed a "bold new strategic agreement" on security co-operation and said she was optimistic about a "defining moment" in UK history. The prime minister also proposed a "bold new security agreement" and said the UK would be the EU's "strongest partner and friend".
On trade, she said the two sides could do "so much better" than adopt existing models and there was "no need to impose tariffs where there are none now". On trade, she said the two sides could do "so much better" than adopt existing models.
In a wide-ranging speech, Mrs May also said: There was "no need to impose tariffs where there are none now", the prime minister said.
Negotiations are due to resume on Monday but so far the two sides have not reached agreement on the issues of the rights of EU and UK citizens, the financial settlement or the Irish border issue. She did not mention how much the UK would be prepared to continue to pay into the EU after Brexit, but it has been estimated as being at least 20bn euros (about £18bn).
In her speech, Mrs May said the UK would "honour commitments" made while it had been a member to avoid creating "uncertainty for the remaining member states".
She also suggested that in the long-term the UK and EU would continue working together on projects promoting economic development and the UK would want to "make an ongoing contribution to cover our fair share of the costs involved".
When the two-year transition period is up, the UK and EU could towards a new "deep and special partnership," she said in her speech.
By March 2019, neither the UK or EU would be ready to "smoothly" implement new arrangements needed: "So during the implementation period access to one another's markets should continue on current terms and Britain also should continue to take part in existing security measures."
Such a period should be "time limited", she said, as neither the EU nor the British people would want the UK to remain in the EU longer than necessary.
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC Political Editor Laura KuenssbergBy BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg
It is an offer, not a blinding revelation, but a limited flash of ankle to her continental counterparts.It is an offer, not a blinding revelation, but a limited flash of ankle to her continental counterparts.
Today was not about lavishing detail on the EU side who are eager to understand more about what it is the UK actually wants from them after we leave.Today was not about lavishing detail on the EU side who are eager to understand more about what it is the UK actually wants from them after we leave.
It was the notional writing of an undated check from us to them, that government insiders hope means next week, when the official talks get back under way, some progress can actually be made. It was the notional writing of an undated cheque from us to them, that government insiders hope means next week, when the official talks get back under way, some progress can actually be made.
Read Laura's full blogRead Laura's full blog
But she hoped to build a "comprehensive and ambitious" new economic partnership with the EU in the long-term.
This should not be based on existing agreements with Canada or European Economic Area membership, she said, but a "creative solution" should be found to reflect the existing relationship between the UK and EU.
To EU citizens in the UK she offered reassurance that "we want you to stay, we value you" and acknowledged differences with the EU over which courts should guarantee their rights after Brexit.
She said she wanted UK courts to take account of rulings by the European Court of Justice and hoped "on this basis, our teams can reach firm agreement quickly".
'Concrete implications'
Mrs May opened her speech by saying Brexit was a "critical time in the evolution of the relationship between the United Kingdom and European Union".Mrs May opened her speech by saying Brexit was a "critical time in the evolution of the relationship between the United Kingdom and European Union".
She said if "we open our minds to new thinking and new possibilities we can forge a brighter and better future for all our peoples".She said if "we open our minds to new thinking and new possibilities we can forge a brighter and better future for all our peoples".
Some voters were worried about the prospect of Brexit - but others found it an "exciting time," she said.
"I look ahead with optimism, believing that if we use this moment to change not just our relationship with Europe but also the way we do things at home - this will be a defining moment in the history of our nation""I look ahead with optimism, believing that if we use this moment to change not just our relationship with Europe but also the way we do things at home - this will be a defining moment in the history of our nation"
The 20bn euro offer is meant to ensure no EU countries are left out of pocket by Britain's departure. Responding to the speech, EU Brexit negotiator Mr Barnier said the prime minister had "expressed a constructive spirit which is also the spirit of the European Union during this unique negotiation - the speech shows a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence".
But it is not part of the "divorce bill" covering the UK's outstanding debts and liabilities to the EU, which will still have to be agreed with EU negotiators, meaning the final bill for Brexit could be far higher. But he added that while her statements on EU citizens were "a step forward", they "must now be translated into a precise negotiating position of the UK government".
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Thursday he was awaiting "clear commitments" from the UK on the citizens' rights issue, the divorce bill and the Northern Ireland border. "We look forward to the United Kingdom's negotiators explaining the concrete implications of Prime Minister Theresa May's speech. Our ambition is to find a rapid agreement on the conditions of the United Kingdom's orderly withdrawal, as well as on a possible transition period," he said.
Without those issues being resolved in a withdrawal agreement, there would be no transition deal, he said. Mr Barnier is expected to release a written statement on Mrs May's speech later.
What is your reaction to Theresa May's speech? Can it break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations? Are you an EU citizen living in the UK or a Briton living in the EU? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.What is your reaction to Theresa May's speech? Can it break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations? Are you an EU citizen living in the UK or a Briton living in the EU? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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