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May calls for Brexit talks to accelerate and intensify – Politics live May calls for Brexit talks to accelerate and intensify – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, is speaking to journalists at the EU summit.
He says there has been progress in the talks. But there are huge problems to be solved on Ireland, he says.
He insists that EU remains committed to its red lines, stressing the integrity of the four freedoms.
He says the EU is still waiting to hear what the UK wants.
And he ends by saying there is not much time.
Time is very short.
I’ll post the quotes in a moment.
On the Today programme this morning Matt Hancock, the culture minister, was asked about next week’s meeting at Chequers, where the cabinet will be asked to agree what’s in the government white paper on Brexit being published the following week.
In the interview Hancock clearly aligned himself with Greg Clark, the business secretary, and Theresa May on the subject of whether the party should be listening to the voice of business, against figures like Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, and Iain Duncan Smith, the former party leader, who have all in one way or another been suggesting the opposite. Hancock said:
I think that the Conservative party is the party of business and of prosperity, or we are nothing.
Leaders from the EU 27 are now arriving (slightly later than planned, after yesterday’s virtual all-nighter) for today’s talks. You can watch a live feed of the arrivals here.
They are talking about Brexit. Theresa May, of course, isn’t invited to these discussions, and she is on her way home.
Here is the full text (pdf) of what was agreed at the European council yesterday. It is mostly about migration and it does not refer to Brexit.
But there was a Brexit-related decision yesterday. The council agreed to re-allocated some of the 73 seats in the European parliament that will become vacant when the UK leaves. Most will go, cutting the size of the parliament from 751 MEPs to 705 MEPs, but 27 will be reallocated. According to the commission, this is how they will be divided up.
The 27 seats will be distributed to France (+5), Spain (+5), Italy (+3), Netherlands (+3), Ireland (+2), Sweden (+1), Austria (+1), Denmark (+1), Finland (+1), Slovakia (+1), Croatia (+1), Estonia (+1), Poland (+1) and Romania (+1). No member state will lose any seats.
The BBC’s Adam Fleming has more on what the EU leaders agreed on migration.
What did Conte get? From a quick read of the new #EUCO conclusions on migration the main things that jump out are: (1) new language on boats operating in the Med. pic.twitter.com/4Ih3F4pJT9
(2) Paragraph six is the biggie - controlled processing centres in the EU (previous drafts only talked about facilities outside the EU). Note all the caveats. pic.twitter.com/C2RHJtN6I3
(3) And was this the quid pro quo for being tougher at home - being friendlier abroad? pic.twitter.com/LPf0RQJCtS
Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has welcomed the migration deal, saying the EU is “starting to head in the right direction”. He tweeted:Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has welcomed the migration deal, saying the EU is “starting to head in the right direction”. He tweeted:
It was important for us to reach an agreement and that’s what we did in the European council in the early hours of today. The European Union is starting to head in the right direction: giving a European perspective on the European challenge that is migration.It was important for us to reach an agreement and that’s what we did in the European council in the early hours of today. The European Union is starting to head in the right direction: giving a European perspective on the European challenge that is migration.
Era importante llegar a un acuerdo y esta madrugada, en el Consejo Europeo, lo hemos conseguido. La UE comienza a caminar en la dirección necesaria: dar una perspectiva europea a un desafío europeo como es la migración.Era importante llegar a un acuerdo y esta madrugada, en el Consejo Europeo, lo hemos conseguido. La UE comienza a caminar en la dirección necesaria: dar una perspectiva europea a un desafío europeo como es la migración.
In Ireland the Europe minister, Helen McEntee, said the Irish government is planning for the “best outcome” but “preparing for the worst” following Brexit.In Ireland the Europe minister, Helen McEntee, said the Irish government is planning for the “best outcome” but “preparing for the worst” following Brexit.
It was agreed that a meeting of the British-Irish interGovernmental conference will take place on 25 July. It will be the first time the bilateral platform for cooperation on all levels has happened since 2007.It was agreed that a meeting of the British-Irish interGovernmental conference will take place on 25 July. It will be the first time the bilateral platform for cooperation on all levels has happened since 2007.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held a 30 minute meeting with Theresa May on the margins of the Brussels summit last night.Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held a 30 minute meeting with Theresa May on the margins of the Brussels summit last night.
McEntee told RTE’s Morning Ireland that Varadkar highlighted concern there was no progress on the issued and that there would be no deal in October.McEntee told RTE’s Morning Ireland that Varadkar highlighted concern there was no progress on the issued and that there would be no deal in October.
But, judging by pictures from the meeting, the mood wasn’t all grim, and the pair seem to have found something to laugh about. (Perhaps it was a joke from McEntee, who was in the room, although in this shot we’ve only got her knees.)But, judging by pictures from the meeting, the mood wasn’t all grim, and the pair seem to have found something to laugh about. (Perhaps it was a joke from McEntee, who was in the room, although in this shot we’ve only got her knees.)
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Kate.Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Kate.
The EU summit talks last night focused on migration, but Brexit has not vanished as a problem and, as she left the meeting in the early hours of the morning, Theresa May said that she wanted to see the Brexit talks accelerate and intensify. She told reporters:The EU summit talks last night focused on migration, but Brexit has not vanished as a problem and, as she left the meeting in the early hours of the morning, Theresa May said that she wanted to see the Brexit talks accelerate and intensify. She told reporters:
We are going to be publishing our white paper shortly and I want to see the negotiations accelerating and intensifying thereafter.We are going to be publishing our white paper shortly and I want to see the negotiations accelerating and intensifying thereafter.
And on the subject of the migration conclusions, she said:And on the subject of the migration conclusions, she said:
We have come to positive conclusions, a lot of them around what the United Kingdom has been encouraging for some time, which is taking more action upstream in countries of origin so that we can ensure that people aren’t having to make and aren’t making these very dangerous journeys, often travelling many miles, often at the hands of the people smugglers and making the dangerous trips across the Mediterranean where we still see some people dying.We have come to positive conclusions, a lot of them around what the United Kingdom has been encouraging for some time, which is taking more action upstream in countries of origin so that we can ensure that people aren’t having to make and aren’t making these very dangerous journeys, often travelling many miles, often at the hands of the people smugglers and making the dangerous trips across the Mediterranean where we still see some people dying.
This is from Gavin Barwell, May’s chief of staff.This is from Gavin Barwell, May’s chief of staff.
PM being interviewed by @BethRigby as we leave European Council at 5.15am pic.twitter.com/9nB6Zp0WhNPM being interviewed by @BethRigby as we leave European Council at 5.15am pic.twitter.com/9nB6Zp0WhN
In an early morning radio show Matteo Salvini, the Italian interior minister, adopted a “wait and see” approach.In an early morning radio show Matteo Salvini, the Italian interior minister, adopted a “wait and see” approach.
He said real progress had been made on protection of the EU’s external borders, and investment in Africa. But he refrained from making the same bold pronouncements that the summit had been a big success for Italy.He said real progress had been made on protection of the EU’s external borders, and investment in Africa. But he refrained from making the same bold pronouncements that the summit had been a big success for Italy.
Instead, he focused on the role he claimed his government had played in setting the agenda, and alleged it was the first time that Italy had been willing to stand up to its EU partners, especially France, in discussions that lasted well into the morning.Instead, he focused on the role he claimed his government had played in setting the agenda, and alleged it was the first time that Italy had been willing to stand up to its EU partners, especially France, in discussions that lasted well into the morning.
It is unlikely that Salvini would attack the deal while the ink was still drying on the agreement: he is a major player in the far-right/populist alliance and any major criticism would provoke accusations that he was creating a rift.It is unlikely that Salvini would attack the deal while the ink was still drying on the agreement: he is a major player in the far-right/populist alliance and any major criticism would provoke accusations that he was creating a rift.
But he also emphasised that ports in Italy would remain closed to NGOs who had rescued migrants, signalling he was not willing to backdown from a position that has created tensions with other EU partners and provoked accusations that Italy was violating international humanitarian laws.But he also emphasised that ports in Italy would remain closed to NGOs who had rescued migrants, signalling he was not willing to backdown from a position that has created tensions with other EU partners and provoked accusations that Italy was violating international humanitarian laws.
Salvini’s hardline rhetoric and actions have won him popularity in Italy, and he has seen a big jump in his approval numbers since the 4 March election. He is unlikely to tone down his demonisation of NGOs and migrants now.Salvini’s hardline rhetoric and actions have won him popularity in Italy, and he has seen a big jump in his approval numbers since the 4 March election. He is unlikely to tone down his demonisation of NGOs and migrants now.
On Friday morning, Günther Oettinger, the European commissioner for budget and human resources, hailed the outcome of the summit as a “genuine breakthrough”.On Friday morning, Günther Oettinger, the European commissioner for budget and human resources, hailed the outcome of the summit as a “genuine breakthrough”.
“I believe there are good reasons why the CSU will recognise this as big step in the right direction”, Oettinger told German radio. “We in the CDU will recognise it as a big step in the right direction”.Former Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz said the agreement was a “pragmatic” decision which should convince interior minister Horst Seehofer, who has threatened to start turning away migrants already registered in other EU states at German borders should Merkel not come up with a European solution by the start of July.Schulz, a former president of the European parliament, bemoaned that the summit’s joint agreements came far too late: “What has been concluded now should have been concluded years ago”.“I believe there are good reasons why the CSU will recognise this as big step in the right direction”, Oettinger told German radio. “We in the CDU will recognise it as a big step in the right direction”.Former Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz said the agreement was a “pragmatic” decision which should convince interior minister Horst Seehofer, who has threatened to start turning away migrants already registered in other EU states at German borders should Merkel not come up with a European solution by the start of July.Schulz, a former president of the European parliament, bemoaned that the summit’s joint agreements came far too late: “What has been concluded now should have been concluded years ago”.
He predicted that a “coalition of the willing”, consisting at least of Germany, France and Spain, would set up bigger processing centres for asylum seekers inside the EU, and called for more money from the EU budget for those who volunteer to take an active role.He predicted that a “coalition of the willing”, consisting at least of Germany, France and Spain, would set up bigger processing centres for asylum seekers inside the EU, and called for more money from the EU budget for those who volunteer to take an active role.
Jennifer Rankin has this nice insight into how the discussions on immigration between EU leaders – which went on until after 4:30 this morning – unfolded:
In an attempt to force the issue, Italy’s Conte was accused of hijacking the summit when he threatened to block the entire summit conclusions unless he received more help.
“I am a law professor,” Conte told his fellow leaders, protesting about the EU’s working methods, promoting an unusual exchange, according to a source. The Bulgarian prime minister, Boyko Borissov, replied: “Well, I used to be a fireman and this is not how you negotiate.” Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, added that he used to be a welder and he did not agree with the Italian’s way of making his point either.
Her full story is here.
More from Stephanie Kirchgaessner, about the response from Salvini, who is speaking on radio about the closure of Italian ports to rescue boats on the Mediterranean.
In ongoing radio interview, interior minister @matteosalvinimi confirms that all Italian ports are closed to NGOs who have saved migrants. He also accuses NGOs of being funded by George Soros, one of the favorite dog whistles of the far right.
We have a schedule for today’s events (all in UK time):
9am UK time (delayed due to last night’s late end): Leaders arrive giving reaction to their long dinner, which ended with conclusions on migration, enlargement and defence at 4.47am.
10am: Leaders gather to talk about Brexit and sign off on a statement – they are expected to talk about the Irish border, what happens if there’s no deal, and more.
12pm: Leaders meet to discuss the eurozone.
1.30pm: A joint press conference with Tusk, Juncker and some leaders of European governments.
In Italy, the deal was hailed by prime minister Giuseppe Conte as a breakthrough.
Conte said that Italy was no longer alone in dealing with the crisis on its shores. But there was – so far – no reaction on social media from the man who may matter more, the far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini.
In the last 24-hours, Salvini has repeated his call for NGOs to stop saving migrants in the Mediterranean, using the hashtag #stopinvasione, stop the invasion.
Malta chiude i suoi porti alle navi delle Ong straniere? Bene, quindi vuol dire che avevamo ragione noi, indietro non si torna!Stop al traffico di esseri umani, stop a chi aiuta gli scafisti. #stopinvasione pic.twitter.com/VFgwfmwksN
The Bavarian CSU, the sister party to Merkel’s CDU which had initially created the pressure for the chancellor to emerge from the summit with a new deal on migration, had already quietly switched to de-escalation mode before the German delegation headed to Brussels.Interior minister Horst Seehofer told German TV on Wednesday that while the situation was serious, the conversations that had been started were “quite sensible”. On Thursday night, former Bavarian state premier Edmund Stoiber said in a talkshow: “I am confident after hearing what is coming out of Brussels. I believe that a way can still be found”.Heads of the CSU and the CDU will meet separately in Munich and Berlin on Sunday at 3pm to debate the outcome of the Brussels summit.
The BBC have tweeted photographs of the new European Commission conclusion on migration. The conclusion includes a section on rescue boats, believed to be included as a concession to Italy (see the bolded text), and an interesting paragraph declaring the establishment of “controlled centres set up in Member States ... where rapid and secure processing would occur” of those who are rescued from the sea.
Here’s some of the text of the conclusion reached today:
As regards the central Mediterranean route, efforts to stop smugglers operating out of Libya or elsewhere should be further intensified. The EU will continue to stand by Italy and other frontline member states in this respect. It will step up its support for the Sahel region, the Libyan Coastguard, coastal and Southern communities, humane reception conditions, voluntary humanitarian returns, cooperation with other countries of origin and transit, as well as voluntary resettlement. All vessels operating in the Mediterranean must respect the applicable laws and not obstruct operations of the Libyan coastguard.
On EU territory, those who are saved, according to international law, should be taken charge of, on the basis of a shared effort, through the transfer in controlled centres set up in member states, only on a voluntary basis, where rapid and secure processing would allow, with full EU support, to distinguish between irregular migrants, who will be returned, and those in need of international protection, for whom the principle of solidarity would apply. All the measures in the context of these controlled centres, including relocation and resettlement, will be on a voluntary basis, without prejudice to the Dublin reform.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU commissioner for migration, has said the agreement reached this morning was a “positive first step towards more solidarity”.
In a series of tweets in the early hours of this morning, Avramopolous called on EU member states to finalise the Common European Asylum System and to strengthen Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency.
Last week, Avramopouls said the EU wanted to “intensify cooperation” with Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Niger and Morocco and announced the intention to create a “regional disembarkation scheme”, similar to the scheme discussed and agreed upon by European government leaders overnight.
I welcome the positive and comprehensive approach taken by our leaders and building on the achievements of the last 3 years: the EU will continue to stand by frontline Member States and continue to stem irregular migration on all existing and emerging routes. #EUCO #migrationEU
A first positive step towards more solidarity on disembarkation, controlled centres for processing in the EU, including relocation and resettlement. I call on all to make this solidarity a reality. #EUCO #migrationEU
We will finalise the Common European Asylum System, strengthen further @Frontex , step up reform without forgetting our very valuable cooperation with our partners outside the EU. Welcome launch of the second tranche of Facility for Turkey and the €500 million for Africa. #EUCO
After a long night of talks that wrapped up at about 3am local time, leaders are expected back at 11am to begin day two of discussions. They are due to talk about Brexit today, though Theresa May has already addressed the council on the subject of Brexit, issuing a stark warning to them yesterday that their citizens’ lives will be at risk if they fail to show more flexibility on Brexit.
Brussels has insisted the UK will not be able to participate in information-sharing schemes such as Ecris (European Criminal Records Information System) and Prüm, through which EU authorities track criminals and terrorists, once it is a “third country”.
Yesterday, May told her fellow leaders that, if the EU continues to insist on this, Britain “will no longer be able to share real-time alerts for wanted persons, including criminals. We would be able to respond less swiftly to alerts for missing people, either side of the Channel, and reunite them with their loved ones. And our collective ability to map terrorist networks across Europe and bring those responsible to justice would be reduced. That is not what I want, and I do not believe that is what you want either”.
Several papers led their coverage today with May’s warning. The Times’ splash headline was: “EU putting lives at risk over Brexit, warns May”, the Daily Express led with: “EU ‘risking lives’ in row over security”, whereas the i had: “Divided cabinet dismays Europe”.
The European Council press office has shared this photo of the leaders hard at work in negotiations. Angela Merkel is in the centre on the far side of the circular table (in the jewel-green jacket).
June European Council #EUCO conclusions: https://t.co/XcpoPIlnZk pic.twitter.com/k6IZAf9kLj
The issue of immigration – which has been long-simmering and threatened the cohesion of the EU – is of particular importance to Merkel, whose coalition government is under strain after Germany’s hardline interior minister Horst Seehofer threatened to turn away any asylum claimants already registered in another EU country, unless Merkel came up with a solution by 1 July.
It is unclear whether this deal will be enough to appease the German chancellor’s critics back home.
Before leaving for the EU summit, Merkel addressed the Bundestag, saying European leaders should find a solution to asylum challenges “by allowing ourselves to be guided by values and rooting for multilateralism rather than unilateralism” and that failing to do so risked creating a situation where “no one believes in the value system that has made us so strong”.
For more on Merkel’s troubles at home and warnings to European leaders, read this excellent piece from my colleagues Jennifer Rankin and Philip Oltermann.
European leaders have claimed to have reached a breakthrough on migration challenges, after all-night talks.
Gathering in Brussels, leaders are due to turn their attention to Brexit today, but yesterday the chief subject of debate was migration, as heads of government tried to find answers to what Angela Merkel has dubbed “vital questions” posed by migration to the union.
Announcing the end of tense summit talks shortly before dawn, the head of the European Council Donald Tusk tweeted that EU leaders had reached an agreement, including on migration.
EU28 leaders have agreed on #euco conclusions incl. migration.
Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin, has been reporting through the night. She writes:
Hours earlier that outcome had been in doubt, when Italy threatened to veto the entire text, unless other EU states did more to help with people arriving on Italian shores. Opposition from Poland, Hungary and other central European states to any hint of mandatory action meant talks dragged through the night.
The euro jumped 0.6% on news of the deal, while French president Emmanuel Macron declared that European cooperation “has won the day”.
Italy’s new prime minister Giuseppe Conte said: “We are satisfied. It was a long negotiation but from today Italy is no longer alone.”
But the bloc dodged an agreement on controversial refugee quotas, as a quartet of central European countries resisted language on EU-wide responsibility. “It is a thin deal,” said one senior source.
The plan agreed upon aims to bolster the bloc’s external borders and improve solidarity between member states, to reduce pressure on countries like Greece, Spain and Italy, which are points of arrival into Europe.
Details are hazy, but the plan seems to involve establishing screening centers in North Africa, where asylum eligibility is assessed. European Union funds would be used to persuade the countries to sign on. At present no north African countries have suggested they would be willing to participate.
Leaders also agreed that EU countries should help migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to alleviate the burden on Italy and Greece – an issue that has come to the fore since Italy closed its ports to migrant rescue ships – but details of how this would work remained unclear.
On leaving the summit the German chancellor conceded that “we still have a lot of work to do to bridge the different views,” but said it was “a good signal” that the EU had agreed a common text, Jennifer Rankin reports. Merkel had warned on Thursday that the future of the European Union hinged on whether it could find answers to the “vital questions” posed by migration.
We will be bringing you more news from the EU summit, plus other political news, opinion and analysis throughout the day. You can read all today’s Guardian politics stories here.