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Brexit talks could take months to progress to next phase, says Barnier Brexit talks could take months to progress to next phase, says Barnier
(35 minutes later)
The Brexit negotiations could be in a stalemate for months to come unless the UK agrees to honour all its financial commitments, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has suggested, at the end of the latest round of talks. The Brexit negotiations could be in a stalemate for months to come unless the UK agrees to honour all its financial commitments, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has suggested at the end of the latest round of talks.
A “new dynamic” had been created by Theresa May’s speech in Florence last week, Barnier said, during a press conference in Brussels where both parties said important new ground was now being covered, yet standout issues remain. A “new dynamic” had been created by Theresa May’s speech in Florence last week, Barnier said during a press conference in Brussels where both parties said progress had been made, especially on the issue of citizens’ rights.
Barnier lamented that the UK’s Brexit secretary, David Davis, had in his own words not yet been ready to specify what past financial commitments would now be met by the UK. But standout issues remain, and Barnier lamented that the UK’s Brexit secretary, David Davis, was in his own words not yet ready to specify what past financial commitments would now be met by the UK.
“The UK explained also that it was not in a position yet to identify its commitments taken during membership,” Barnier said. “For the EU the only way to reach sufficient progress is that all commitments taken at 28 are honoured at 28... “The UK explained also that it was not in a position yet to identify its commitments taken during membership,” Barnier said. “For the EU, the only way to reach sufficient progress is that all commitments taken at 28 [member states] are honoured at 28.
“We have had a constructive week, yes, but we are not yet there in terms of achieving sufficient progress. Further work is needed in coming weeks and coming months.”“We have had a constructive week, yes, but we are not yet there in terms of achieving sufficient progress. Further work is needed in coming weeks and coming months.”
EU leaders insist talks must make “sufficient progress” on Britain’s financial settlement, the rights of citizens hit by Brexit and the status of the Irish border before they can be broadened to encompass future relations between Britain and the bloc. Barnier said the UK had confirmed that EU citizens would be able to invoke their rights before UK courts, which he hailed as “very important” progress. But there was still disagreement on the role of the European court of justice in securing those rights, and “this is a stumbling block for the EU”. A big gap remains on family reunification, he added.
Barnier also said that the role of the European court of justice remained a stumbling block to progress. EU leaders insist talks must make sufficient progress on Britain’s financial settlement, the rights of citizens, and the status of the Irish border before they can be broadened to encompass future relations between Britain and the bloc. The UK had hoped to get the go-ahead on talks about future relations when EU leaders meet next month.
He added: “There are others; a big gap remains on family reunification. We want exiting rights to continue.” Davis said “decisive steps forward had been made”, in particular on ensuring the rights of citizens. “This round was a vital one,” he added, as he called for “pragmatism” from the European commission, the EU’s executive body.
Davis said “decisive steps forward had been made”, in particular on ensuring the rights of citizens who would be hit by Britain’s departure Citizens’ rights are the rights and protections offered to all EU citizens, including free movement and residence, equal treatment and a wide range of other rights under EU law regarding work, education, social security and health.
“This round was a vital one. We made important progress,” Davis said, as he called for “pragmatism” from the European commission, the EU’s executive body. They are held by some 3.5 million citizens from other member states in the UK and about 1.2 million British nationals on the continent, and are a key part of the  negotiations that are taking Britain out of Europe. 
The British government wants EU nationals to have the same rights as British citizens, which would mean an income threshold for those who wanted to be reunited with a non-European spouse. EU nationals are currently exempt from that law. Read more on citizens' rights
Thursday’s joint press conference came as the European parliament prepared to formally censure the British government for discriminating against EU nationals since the Brexit vote. More from the Brexit phrasebook
A resolution by the parliament, to be voted upon next Tuesday, says there is clear evidence that EU nationals are being unfairly treated in the UK, and that Britons on the continent are also suffering. Meanwhile, the European parliament is preparing to formally censure the British government for discriminating against EU nationals since the Brexit vote.
A resolution by the parliament, to be voted upon next Tuesday, says there is clear evidence that EU nationals are being unfairly treated in the UK and that Britons on the continent are also suffering.
“Recent administrative incidents have demonstrated that discrimination against citizens of the EU27 in the United Kingdom and UK citizens in the EU27 is already taking place and is having an impact on the daily lives of the citizens concerned limiting the effective exercise of their rights,” the document says.“Recent administrative incidents have demonstrated that discrimination against citizens of the EU27 in the United Kingdom and UK citizens in the EU27 is already taking place and is having an impact on the daily lives of the citizens concerned limiting the effective exercise of their rights,” the document says.
The resolution also attacks the British government for its handling of the negotiations, the fourth round of which ends on Thursday, and claims that in order for Theresa May to live up to her pledge that there will not be any physical infrastructure at the border in Ireland after Brexit, the province of Northern Ireland will have to stay in the customs union. The resolution also attacks the British government’s handling of the Brexit negotiations and claims that in order for Theresa May to live up to her pledge that there will not be any physical infrastructure at the border in Ireland after Brexit, the province of Northern Ireland will have to stay in the customs union.
The parliament will have the right to veto any agreement between the EU and the UK. Barnier meets with its Brexit steering committee almost weekly. The parliament will have the right to veto any agreement between the EU and the UK. Barnier meets its Brexit steering committee almost weekly.
Across its nine pages, there is scathing language in the resolution about Britain’s positions, including what it describes as a failure to provide concrete proposals on the financial settlement. The draft resolution says that “so far, the absence of any clear proposals has seriously impeded the negotiations”. Across its nine pages there is scathing language in the resolution about Britain’s positions, including what it describes as a failure to provide concrete proposals on the financial settlement. The draft resolution says that “so far the absence of any clear proposals has seriously impeded the negotiations”.
The resolution further “notes” May’s request in her speech in Florence for a transition period after March 2019, but directly contradicts comments from Davis over the weekend by insisting that the UK will remain under EU law and the European court of justice.The resolution further “notes” May’s request in her speech in Florence for a transition period after March 2019, but directly contradicts comments from Davis over the weekend by insisting that the UK will remain under EU law and the European court of justice.
“Such a transition can only happen on the basis of the existing European Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary, enforcement instruments and structures” and “can only be envisaged under the full jurisdiction of the court of justice of the European Union”, the resolution says. “Such a transition can only happen on the basis of the existing European Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary, enforcement instruments and structures” and “can only be envisaged under the full jurisdiction of the court of justice of the European Union,” the resolution says.