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Brexit: Make up your mind on future trade deal or we'll do it for you, EU tells Theresa May Brexit: Make up your mind on future trade deal or we'll do it for you, EU tells Theresa May
(35 minutes later)
The European Union will present a plan for a post-Brexit trade relationship with Britain in March whether or not Theresa May’s government has made up its mind about what it wants, the European Council president has said.The European Union will present a plan for a post-Brexit trade relationship with Britain in March whether or not Theresa May’s government has made up its mind about what it wants, the European Council president has said.
Speaking after an informal summit of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels, Donald Tusk said it would “be much better” if the UK had an idea of what it wanted ahead of the meeting, but that “we cannot stand by and wait”. Speaking after an informal summit of the EU27 leaders in Brussels, Donald Tusk said it would “be much better” if the UK had an idea of what it wanted ahead of next month’s meeting, but that “we cannot stand by and wait”. He added that the UK government’s reported position on trade so far was “pure illusion”.
The Council president’s warning comes after the UK Cabinet failed to come up with substantive plans for the future relationship beyond a pledge for an “ambitious managed divergence” at a lock-in away day at the PM’s country residence Chequers. The Council president’s warning comes after the UK Cabinet failed to come up with substantive plans for the future relationship beyond a pledge for “ambitious managed divergence” at a lock-in away day at the PM’s country residence Chequers.
“Today I have also informed the leaders that I will present the draft guidelines on the future UK-EU relationship at the March summit,” Mr Tusk told reporters. “Our intention is to adopt these guidelines whether the UK is ready with its vision of our future relations or not,” Mr Tusk told reporters.
“Our intention is to adopt these guidelines whether the UK is ready with its vision of our future relations or not. 
“Naturally, it would be much better if it were, but we cannot stand by and wait. I hope to have some more clarity about the UK’s plans this week when I meet Prime Minister May in London.”“Naturally, it would be much better if it were, but we cannot stand by and wait. I hope to have some more clarity about the UK’s plans this week when I meet Prime Minister May in London.”
The summit was convened with the main intention of hashing out the first stage of the next EU budget, and filling a hole left by Britain’s departure.  He added: “I am glad that the UK government seems to be moving towards a more detailed position, however if the media reports are correct I am afraid that the UK position today is based on pure illusion. 
“It looks like the [have your] ‘cake’ [and eat it] philosophy is still alive. From the very start it has been a key principle of the EU27 that there can be no cherry picking and no single market à la carte. This will continue to be a key principle, I have no doubt.” 
The Friday summit was convened with the main intention of hashing out the first stage of the next EU budget, and filling a financial hole left by Britain’s departure. 
The Commission wants cuts to spending on agricultural subsidies and cohesion funds – help for poorer member states – which make 70 per cent of the EU budget. Countries are also being asked to contribute more to make up the shortfall, while other revenue raising measures such as a plastic tax have also been proposed.The Commission wants cuts to spending on agricultural subsidies and cohesion funds – help for poorer member states – which make 70 per cent of the EU budget. Countries are also being asked to contribute more to make up the shortfall, while other revenue raising measures such as a plastic tax have also been proposed.
The bloc also wants to increase spending on immigration and border control to tackle the migration crisis, a particular priority of the Austrian government, which will chair the EU council in the second half of this year.The bloc also wants to increase spending on immigration and border control to tackle the migration crisis, a particular priority of the Austrian government, which will chair the EU council in the second half of this year.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt explained the position the Cabinet had come to on BBC Radio 4 this morning. He said the UK wanted “frictionless trade” while also leaving the customs union. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt explained the position the UK Cabinet had come to on Brexit trade on BBC Radio 4 this morning. He said the UK wanted “frictionless trade” while also leaving the customs union.
He said there was a “central common understanding” that “there will be areas and sectors of industry where we agree to align our regulations with European regulations, such as the automotive industry”.He said there was a “central common understanding” that “there will be areas and sectors of industry where we agree to align our regulations with European regulations, such as the automotive industry”.
But he added: “But it will be on a voluntary basis, we will as a sovereign power have the right to choose to diverge, and what we won't be doing is accepting changes in rules because the EU unilaterally chooses to make those changes.” But he added: “But it will be on a voluntary basis, we will as a sovereign power have the right to choose to diverge, and what we won’t be doing is accepting changes in rules because the EU unilaterally chooses to make those changes.”
The proposal appears to be one that has already been ruled out with the European Union’s negotiators. Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator, has repeatedly said that trade barriers would have be erected were the UK to leave the customs union and single market, and that Britain cannot “cherry pick” parts of the EU to remain in.The proposal appears to be one that has already been ruled out with the European Union’s negotiators. Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator, has repeatedly said that trade barriers would have be erected were the UK to leave the customs union and single market, and that Britain cannot “cherry pick” parts of the EU to remain in.
Documents released by the Commission on the eve of the Chequers meeting reiterated that the plan that Ms May was attempting to convince her ministers of crossed EU red lines and would not be acceptable.Documents released by the Commission on the eve of the Chequers meeting reiterated that the plan that Ms May was attempting to convince her ministers of crossed EU red lines and would not be acceptable.
The Prime Minister is currently trying to negotiate the transition period for Brexit, and wants to complete it before the March summit of the European Council, where she will meet other EU leaders. After that summit both sides hope to move to discussions about what framework trade will be conducted in, though a full trade agreement would only be negotiated after Britain leaves in March 2019.The Prime Minister is currently trying to negotiate the transition period for Brexit, and wants to complete it before the March summit of the European Council, where she will meet other EU leaders. After that summit both sides hope to move to discussions about what framework trade will be conducted in, though a full trade agreement would only be negotiated after Britain leaves in March 2019.