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May urges 'new dynamic' in Brexit talks Brexit: EU adopts guidelines for negotiations on future relations
(about 2 hours later)
Theresa May has urged EU leaders to "create a new dynamic" in Brexit talks as negotiations move to the next phase. EU leaders have approved guidelines for the negotiation of future relations with the UK after Brexit.
The UK prime minister addressed fellow EU leaders at a Brussels dinner, the day before they are expected to rubber stamp the Brexit "transition" deal. The text was adopted within minutes at a summit in Brussels and a "strategic discussion" about the next phase of Brexit talks is now under way.
She said the UK and EU should work on issues like Northern Ireland, trade and security with "energy and ambition". The UK is due to leave in March 2019 and negotiators have said they want a deal in place by the end of the year.
The European Council also agreed with the UK that it was "highly likely" Russia was behind the Salisbury attack. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants a "new dynamic" in talks on an economic and security partnership.
Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: "There is no other plausible explanation." The formal adoption of the guidelines, although widely expected, is seen as another key step as the Brexit process gathers momentum.
The prime minister addressed EU leaders ahead of the second day of the European Council summit, where they are expected to give their approval to the terms of a 21-month transition period after Brexit in March 2019. The guidelines give chief negotiator Michel Barnier the mandate to talk directly to the UK about the future relationship with a view to reaching a broad political agreement by October to allow the EU and UK parliaments time to consider it.
Mrs May will not be present as the other leaders meet on Friday to discuss the transition period and consider approving guidelines for the second phase of negotiations. Announcing the move on social media, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted:
She told them on Thursday: "We have the chance now to create a new dynamic in the talks, to work together to explore workable solutions - in Northern Ireland, in our future security co-operation and in order to ensure the future prosperity of all our people." Earlier, UK PM Theresa May told reporters: "We've made good progress on the withdrawal agreement.
"But also I'm looking for a new dynamic in the next stage of the negotiations so that we can ensure that we do develop, that we work together to develop, a strong future economic and security partnership which I believe is in the interest of the UK and the European Union."
At a dinner on Thursday night, Mrs May said the UK and EU should work on issues like Northern Ireland, trade and security with "energy and ambition".
"We have the chance now to work together to explore workable solutions - in Northern Ireland, in our future security co-operation and in order to ensure the future prosperity of all our people."
She added: "This is an opportunity. It is our duty to take it and to enter into it with energy and ambition."She added: "This is an opportunity. It is our duty to take it and to enter into it with energy and ambition."
Later on Friday, the remaining 27 leaders are set to endorse a 21-month transition period after March 2019, when the UK officially leaves.
'Backstop'
The UK is set to leave the bloc on 29 March 2019, but earlier this week Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier struck a deal that would allow for a transition period - which the UK government describes as an implementation period - until December 2020.The UK is set to leave the bloc on 29 March 2019, but earlier this week Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier struck a deal that would allow for a transition period - which the UK government describes as an implementation period - until December 2020.
Under the terms of that joint legal text, the UK will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify its own trade deals, while EU citizens arriving in the UK will enjoy the same rights and guarantees as those who arrive before Brexit.Under the terms of that joint legal text, the UK will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify its own trade deals, while EU citizens arriving in the UK will enjoy the same rights and guarantees as those who arrive before Brexit.
To the dismay of some of Mrs May's Conservative MPs, the UK will effectively remain in the Common Fisheries Policy until the end of 2020, while a solution to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland has yet to be agreed. A solution to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland has yet to be agreed, with the EU insisting on a "backstop" option of Northern Ireland effectively remaining in the customs union.
The EU is insisting on a "backstop" option of Northern Ireland effectively remaining in the customs union and parts of the single market. EU Council president Donald Tusk said on Thursday he was "absolutely sure" a solution would be found to prevent the return of physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Tusk said on Thursday he was "absolutely sure" the two sides would find a solution to prevent the return of physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Mrs May has remained in Brussels for the second day of the EU Council summit to discuss steel and other trade issues although she will not be present when her colleagues meet to rubber stamp the transition period and consider approving guidelines for the second phase of negotiations.
The Irish government has insisted the UK has provided a "cast-iron guarantee" that will ensure no physical infrastructure, checks or controls at the border after withdrawal. She welcomed the temporary US exemption for EU firms from tariffs on steel imports but said what was needed was a permanent exemption, given the "huge importance" of the industry to the British economy.
A written declaration issued by the European Council on the eve of the summit called for "intensified efforts on the remaining withdrawal issues, as well as issues related to the territorial application of the Withdrawal Agreement, notably as regards Gibraltar, and reiterates that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed". "I want to ensure that steel workers and their jobs are properly safeguard," she said.
The Trump administration has decided to temporarily exclude the EU, as well as a number of other countries, from paying tariffs of 25% on steel imports due to come into effect on Friday.