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| Theresa May Seeks to Unlock Brexit Talks in Florence Speech | Theresa May Seeks to Unlock Brexit Talks in Florence Speech |
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| LONDON — After a week of particularly fraught infighting in London, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain will try on Friday to end the stalemate in negotiations over her country’s withdrawal from the European Union, and is expected to offer substantial payments to the bloc after the country’s exit. | LONDON — After a week of particularly fraught infighting in London, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain will try on Friday to end the stalemate in negotiations over her country’s withdrawal from the European Union, and is expected to offer substantial payments to the bloc after the country’s exit. |
| Mrs. May’s long-awaited intervention, during a speech in Florence, Italy, will be watched closely in capitals on the Continent and in London, where members of her cabinet have been fiercely divided over Britain’s tortuous divorce from the bloc. The speech will seek to kick-start stalled negotiations on what is commonly known as Brexit, and to open the way to a broader and more productive discussion about Britain’s relationship with the bloc. | Mrs. May’s long-awaited intervention, during a speech in Florence, Italy, will be watched closely in capitals on the Continent and in London, where members of her cabinet have been fiercely divided over Britain’s tortuous divorce from the bloc. The speech will seek to kick-start stalled negotiations on what is commonly known as Brexit, and to open the way to a broader and more productive discussion about Britain’s relationship with the bloc. |
| Although Britain is scheduled to exit the European Union in March 2019, there has been little progress in talks since London formally announced in March its intention to leave, and Brussels is insisting that Britain agree to the terms of the divorce before discussing future trade ties. Many businesses worry about a “cliff edge” scenario, in which Britain would crash out without a deal, so Mrs. May is under pressure to find a way out of the impasse. | Although Britain is scheduled to exit the European Union in March 2019, there has been little progress in talks since London formally announced in March its intention to leave, and Brussels is insisting that Britain agree to the terms of the divorce before discussing future trade ties. Many businesses worry about a “cliff edge” scenario, in which Britain would crash out without a deal, so Mrs. May is under pressure to find a way out of the impasse. |
| Analysts do not expect Mrs. May to quantify how much money Britain would continue to contribute to the European Union. Instead, she is expected to make an undefined but significant promise that the British — who are big net contributors to the bloc — would not leave a hole in its budget in 2019 and 2020. | Analysts do not expect Mrs. May to quantify how much money Britain would continue to contribute to the European Union. Instead, she is expected to make an undefined but significant promise that the British — who are big net contributors to the bloc — would not leave a hole in its budget in 2019 and 2020. |
| That would probably mean payments of around 20 billion euros, or about $24 billion, after Britain’s departure, contributions that would effectively keep things pretty much as they are today for a two-year transition period. | |
| That alone is unlikely to be enough to satisfy the 27 other member nations, but Mrs. May will no doubt hope that the opening bid is good enough to revive talks, particularly if her rhetoric is as constructive as the government has hinted it will be. | That alone is unlikely to be enough to satisfy the 27 other member nations, but Mrs. May will no doubt hope that the opening bid is good enough to revive talks, particularly if her rhetoric is as constructive as the government has hinted it will be. |
| According to excerpts from the speech released by her office, Mrs. May will say that while Britain’s departure “is inevitably a difficult process, it is in all of our interests for our negotiations to succeed.” | According to excerpts from the speech released by her office, Mrs. May will say that while Britain’s departure “is inevitably a difficult process, it is in all of our interests for our negotiations to succeed.” |
| “If we can do that,” she is expected to say, “then when this chapter of our European history is written, it will be remembered not for the differences we faced, but for the vision we showed.” | “If we can do that,” she is expected to say, “then when this chapter of our European history is written, it will be remembered not for the differences we faced, but for the vision we showed.” |
| European Union negotiators have refused to talk about post-Brexit ties until they judge that there is “sufficient progress” on the issues they consider a priority: the status of European Union citizens in Britain after it leaves, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is a part of the United Kingdom) and Britain’s financial commitments to the bloc. | European Union negotiators have refused to talk about post-Brexit ties until they judge that there is “sufficient progress” on the issues they consider a priority: the status of European Union citizens in Britain after it leaves, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is a part of the United Kingdom) and Britain’s financial commitments to the bloc. |
| “From the European Union’s point of view, it probably takes us 50 percent of the way there,” said Mats Persson, who was a special adviser to former Prime Minister David Cameron and is now head of international trade at the advisory firm EY. “It’s moving us forward, but whether it constitutes ‘significant progress’ for the E.U., I am just not sure.” | |
| Mrs. May briefed her cabinet about plans for the speech on Thursday, after a tense week in which divisions were paraded in public, with Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary and a hard-line proponent of a withdrawal, publishing a 4,000 word essay outlining his vision of the future. | Mrs. May briefed her cabinet about plans for the speech on Thursday, after a tense week in which divisions were paraded in public, with Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary and a hard-line proponent of a withdrawal, publishing a 4,000 word essay outlining his vision of the future. |
| The episode illustrated how the referendum last year on withdrawal, intended to end the Conservative Party’s divisions over Europe, only sharpened them. To make matters worse, senior ministers are jockeying to succeed Mrs. May, who made a huge tactical mistake by calling a general election in June, in which her party lost its parliamentary majority. | The episode illustrated how the referendum last year on withdrawal, intended to end the Conservative Party’s divisions over Europe, only sharpened them. To make matters worse, senior ministers are jockeying to succeed Mrs. May, who made a huge tactical mistake by calling a general election in June, in which her party lost its parliamentary majority. |
| Mr. Johnson attended the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, after dismissing reports that he might resign. In a public show of unity, he emerged after the meeting alongside the chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, who has led calls for a “softer” departure from the bloc that could afford greater protections for the economy. | Mr. Johnson attended the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, after dismissing reports that he might resign. In a public show of unity, he emerged after the meeting alongside the chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, who has led calls for a “softer” departure from the bloc that could afford greater protections for the economy. |
| Only hours earlier, Mrs. May’s former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, who supports leaving the bloc, published an article in The Daily Telegraph asserting that Mr. Hammond’s department was reluctant even to “mention the positives” of leaving the European Union, and accusing the chancellor of being on “maneuvers” to replace Mrs. May. | Only hours earlier, Mrs. May’s former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, who supports leaving the bloc, published an article in The Daily Telegraph asserting that Mr. Hammond’s department was reluctant even to “mention the positives” of leaving the European Union, and accusing the chancellor of being on “maneuvers” to replace Mrs. May. |
| Mrs. May was expected to use her transition statement to calm anxieties in the business world while also reassuring withdrawal hard-liners that, when the initial phase is over, Britain would not be bound by the bloc’s economic, migration and legal rules. | |
| In March, Mrs. May formally began the withdrawal process, invoking a treaty article that lays down a two-year deadline for the completion of talks — unless all member countries agree to extend it. | In March, Mrs. May formally began the withdrawal process, invoking a treaty article that lays down a two-year deadline for the completion of talks — unless all member countries agree to extend it. |
| The European Union’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said on Thursday that there was still significant “uncertainty” over Britain’s position, and that time was of the essence if a deal is to be reaching. | The European Union’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said on Thursday that there was still significant “uncertainty” over Britain’s position, and that time was of the essence if a deal is to be reaching. |
| Noting that six months had passed since Mrs. May set withdrawal negotiations in motion, and arguing that six months would be needed to allow for ratification of any agreement, Mr. Barnier said, “There is therefore only one year left.” | Noting that six months had passed since Mrs. May set withdrawal negotiations in motion, and arguing that six months would be needed to allow for ratification of any agreement, Mr. Barnier said, “There is therefore only one year left.” |
| Mrs. May’s speech was being criticized in Britain even before she spoke. Peter Bone, a Conservative lawmaker and supporter of leaving the bloc, said that the reported terms of her financial offer were unacceptable. | Mrs. May’s speech was being criticized in Britain even before she spoke. Peter Bone, a Conservative lawmaker and supporter of leaving the bloc, said that the reported terms of her financial offer were unacceptable. |
| The money that “Theresa May is reportedly about to offer as the biggest divorce settlement in history would simply be the down payment,” said Vince Cable, leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, which opposes a withdrawal. “Brexit will cost a lot, lot more than this.” | The money that “Theresa May is reportedly about to offer as the biggest divorce settlement in history would simply be the down payment,” said Vince Cable, leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, which opposes a withdrawal. “Brexit will cost a lot, lot more than this.” |