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Brexit: Both sides need to 'step forward' says May Brexit: May says positive vibe but EU warns of 'huge challenge'
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has insisted it is for both sides, not just the UK, to move the Brexit process forward so discussions on future trade relations can begin. Issues still need to be resolved but progress is being made in Brexit negotiations, Theresa May has insisted.
At a security summit in Brussels, she has had lunch with Angela Merkel and will later meet the EU's Donald Tusk. The prime minister said there had been a "very positive atmosphere" in talks with several EU leaders in Brussels.
The PM has been told she has until the start of December to make an enhanced offer on money and the Irish border. The UK, she said, would honour its financial commitments and shared the same desire as Ireland to stop barriers to trade or movement across the border.
EU Council President Donald Tusk said talks could move to the next phase in December but it was a "huge challenge".
At a security summit in Brussels, Mrs May had lunch with Angela Merkel and also met Mr Tusk, who told her last week that she has until the start of December to make an enhanced offer on money and provide guarantees on the Irish border after Brexit.
Ministers have given her their backing to increase the UK's "divorce bill" but only if the EU shows movement on trade.Ministers have given her their backing to increase the UK's "divorce bill" but only if the EU shows movement on trade.
Arriving in Brussels, the prime minister said both sides "must step forward together". The government has refused to comment on reports Reports it had agreed to pay about £40bn to pave the way for EU leaders to approve the next phase of talks at a summit on 14 December.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove refused on Friday to confirm or deny reports that the government had agreed to pay about £40bn to pave the way for EU leaders to approve the next phase of talks at a summit on 14 December. Speaking in Brussels, Mrs May did not answer specific questions about money and said there were "still issues across the various matters that we're negotiating on to be resolved.
And the BBC's Europe reporter Adam Fleming said that after holding talks with Mrs May, Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen had told journalists in the Belgian capital that there had been "movement" on the issue of money. But she added: "There's been a very positive atmosphere in the talks and a genuine feeling that we want to move forward together."
Last week, Mr Tusk said the EU was "ready" to move on to the next phase of talks but the UK must first show more progress on outstanding "separation" issues.
'Optimistic'
The BBC's Europe reporter Adam Fleming said that after holding talks with Mrs May, Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen had told journalists in the Belgian capital that there had been "movement" on the issue of money.
"It seems to me that there is progress and so I have decided to be optimistic about this," Mr Rasmussen - one of the UK's closest allies - said."It seems to me that there is progress and so I have decided to be optimistic about this," Mr Rasmussen - one of the UK's closest allies - said.
The British prime minister will later meet Mr Tusk, who as European Council president represents the 27 other member states. Ministers have refused to confirm or deny reports the government had agreed to pay about £40bn to pave the way for EU leaders to approve the next phase of talks at a summit on 14 December.
Last week, he said the EU was "ready" to move on to the next phase of talks about the shape of post-Brexit relations but the UK must first show more progress on outstanding "separation" issues. The PM also said the UK was in continuing discussions with the Irish government about the solutions for avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Asked whether she was prepared to offer a "blank cheque" to the EU to get what the UK wants, Mrs May signalled the onus was on both sides to get a breakthrough. No 10 earlier had to clarify its position after a spokesman appeared to suggest the possibility of Northern Ireland staying in the customs union may be up for negotiation.
"These negotiations are continuing but what I am clear about is that we must step forward together," she said. "This is for both the UK and the EU to move on to the next stage."
'Exemplary'
Mr Gove, who was one of those ministers reported to have sanctioned the higher offer at a meeting of a key Brexit committee earlier this week, hit out at the "assumptions" and "assertions" reported in the media.
"I am not going to provide a commentary on the negotiating stance because the PM and David Davis should be free to get the best deal for Britain," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The PM, he added, was handling the negotiations in an "exemplary fashion", saying he was confident that she would "put the national interest first" at all times.
No 10 has had to clarify its position on the Irish border after a spokesman appeared to suggest the possibility of Northern Ireland staying in the customs union may be up for negotiation.
Asked about the issue at a lobby briefing, the spokesman said the UK must "continue to negotiate to find an innovative way forward".Asked about the issue at a lobby briefing, the spokesman said the UK must "continue to negotiate to find an innovative way forward".
But Downing Street later insisted that the UK's stated policy - that the whole of the UK is leaving the single market and customs union - remained in force.But Downing Street later insisted that the UK's stated policy - that the whole of the UK is leaving the single market and customs union - remained in force.
The Democratic Unionist Party, which has a parliamentary pact with the Conservatives, has said it could not accept any position after Brexit that would give the perception that Northern Ireland is in any way different from the rest of the UK.
The UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, and served the EU with formal notice of Brexit in March 2017. This began a two-year countdown to the UK's departure day which will be in March 2019.The UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, and served the EU with formal notice of Brexit in March 2017. This began a two-year countdown to the UK's departure day which will be in March 2019.