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| Brexit: May finishes presentation and leaves EU27 to discuss what to offer UK in her absence - live news | Brexit: May finishes presentation and leaves EU27 to discuss what to offer UK in her absence - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg has the iPad scoop. (See 6.22pm.) | |
| IPAD NEWS! the gag was apparently a side by side pic of May and Merkel taking questions in their own parliaments this afternoon, wearing the same colour of jacket..... #brexitbantz, kind of | |
| Theresa May has now finished making her pitch to her fellow EU leaders. | Theresa May has now finished making her pitch to her fellow EU leaders. |
| Now she is out of the room, and the EU27 are deciding what to do next. | Now she is out of the room, and the EU27 are deciding what to do next. |
| This is the key meeting of the evening. | This is the key meeting of the evening. |
| Q&A session with PM @theresa_may finished. Next: EU27 discussion on #Brexit. | Q&A session with PM @theresa_may finished. Next: EU27 discussion on #Brexit. |
| This is from BuzzFeed’s Europe editor, Alberto Nardelli. | This is from BuzzFeed’s Europe editor, Alberto Nardelli. |
| EUCO: I’m told PM May’s intervention is so far more solid than usual, though not many specifics. Sense is that May is open to a longer extension, as long as it can be terminated early, source says. Leaders have many questions. | EUCO: I’m told PM May’s intervention is so far more solid than usual, though not many specifics. Sense is that May is open to a longer extension, as long as it can be terminated early, source says. Leaders have many questions. |
| At his press conference Antonio Tajani, the president of the European parliament, made it clear that he was not happy about the idea of the UK electing MEPs on 23 May, only for them to not take their seats in the parliament if Brexit took place before 30 June. Theresa May seems to think this would be possible, but Tajani said he disagreed. These are from the Sun’s Nick Gutteridge. | At his press conference Antonio Tajani, the president of the European parliament, made it clear that he was not happy about the idea of the UK electing MEPs on 23 May, only for them to not take their seats in the parliament if Brexit took place before 30 June. Theresa May seems to think this would be possible, but Tajani said he disagreed. These are from the Sun’s Nick Gutteridge. |
| EP Pres Tajani: ‘We’re not going to be taken for granted. Electing MEPs and then them not taking up their posts, please, that’s not possible. We’ll fight any action that hinders the image of our institution.’ Says he’s ‘fine’ with Boris Johnson’s dad standing in EU elections. | EP Pres Tajani: ‘We’re not going to be taken for granted. Electing MEPs and then them not taking up their posts, please, that’s not possible. We’ll fight any action that hinders the image of our institution.’ Says he’s ‘fine’ with Boris Johnson’s dad standing in EU elections. |
| So if UK decides to hold elections on May 23 then leave before June 30, as is the PM’s plan, the EP is going to be very unhappy indeed...Tajani was basically saying such a scenario would make a mockery of his institution. | So if UK decides to hold elections on May 23 then leave before June 30, as is the PM’s plan, the EP is going to be very unhappy indeed...Tajani was basically saying such a scenario would make a mockery of his institution. |
| Here is the iPad clip. (See 6.22pm.) | Here is the iPad clip. (See 6.22pm.) |
| The tablet. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/EXlf1UM6Ft | The tablet. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/EXlf1UM6Ft |
| Here is footage of the EU leaders milling around at the start of the meeting. | Here is footage of the EU leaders milling around at the start of the meeting. |
| Roundtable at today's Special #EuropeanCouncil #Article50 https://t.co/B1ApsLLBIR | Roundtable at today's Special #EuropeanCouncil #Article50 https://t.co/B1ApsLLBIR |
| The highlight came when Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, showed Theresa May something on her iPad. May responded with a burst of laughter. | The highlight came when Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, showed Theresa May something on her iPad. May responded with a burst of laughter. |
| Sadly, the EU does not provide audio with this footage, so we don’t know what the joke was. | Sadly, the EU does not provide audio with this footage, so we don’t know what the joke was. |
| Here is Theresa May sitting alongside Donald Tusk at the European council meeting. | Here is Theresa May sitting alongside Donald Tusk at the European council meeting. |
| #euco #brexit pic.twitter.com/OhHowz1RNi | #euco #brexit pic.twitter.com/OhHowz1RNi |
| Antonio Tajani, the president of the European parliament, is now holding a press briefing after his session with the EU leaders. (See 5.37pm.) | Antonio Tajani, the president of the European parliament, is now holding a press briefing after his session with the EU leaders. (See 5.37pm.) |
| He says he has eight points. | He says he has eight points. |
| First, it is important to end the uncertainty around Brexit, he says. | First, it is important to end the uncertainty around Brexit, he says. |
| Second, he said a no-deal Brexit could be avoided at all costs. | Second, he said a no-deal Brexit could be avoided at all costs. |
| Third, he says the parliament wants to see an agreement between the government and the opposition in London as soon as possible. | Third, he says the parliament wants to see an agreement between the government and the opposition in London as soon as possible. |
| Fourth, he says he wants greater clarity about the UK’s future relationship with the EU. | Fourth, he says he wants greater clarity about the UK’s future relationship with the EU. |
| Fifth, he says the parliament wants more clarity about what is being negotiated in London, and it wants to know if there will be a clear majority of a way ahead. | Fifth, he says the parliament wants more clarity about what is being negotiated in London, and it wants to know if there will be a clear majority of a way ahead. |
| Sixth, he says the parliament wants to know the UK will do if no agreement is reached. Will there be a referendum or a general election, or will article 50 be revoked? | Sixth, he says the parliament wants to know the UK will do if no agreement is reached. Will there be a referendum or a general election, or will article 50 be revoked? |
| Seventh, he says an extension must not be allowed to reopen the withdrawal agreement. | Seventh, he says an extension must not be allowed to reopen the withdrawal agreement. |
| Eighth, he says if the UK remains in the EU beyond the European elections, it must take part in those election. But the elections should not be viewed as a game, he says. | Eighth, he says if the UK remains in the EU beyond the European elections, it must take part in those election. But the elections should not be viewed as a game, he says. |
| He says these are the points he made when he addressed EU leaders earlier. | He says these are the points he made when he addressed EU leaders earlier. |
| He says, asked what would happen to British MEPs after Brexit, he said they would not be able to stay in the parliament. | He says, asked what would happen to British MEPs after Brexit, he said they would not be able to stay in the parliament. |
| The session with the president of the European parliament, Antonio Tajani, is over. Now the European council is starting its session with Theresa May, who will formally make her request for an article 50 extension lasting until 30 June. | The session with the president of the European parliament, Antonio Tajani, is over. Now the European council is starting its session with Theresa May, who will formally make her request for an article 50 extension lasting until 30 June. |
| She set out her case in the letter she sent to Donald Tusk, the council president, last week. | She set out her case in the letter she sent to Donald Tusk, the council president, last week. |
| Exchange with @EP_President finished. Next: PM @theresa_may will exchange views with EU27 leaders. #brexit #euco | Exchange with @EP_President finished. Next: PM @theresa_may will exchange views with EU27 leaders. #brexit #euco |
| Here is the Guardian’s story from the opening of the summit. | Here is the Guardian’s story from the opening of the summit. |
| May signals she would accept EU offer of longer Brexit delay | May signals she would accept EU offer of longer Brexit delay |
| Here is a clip of Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, speaking to the media when he arrived earlier. He said any article 50 extension would have to be “useful” and “serve a purpose”. | Here is a clip of Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, speaking to the media when he arrived earlier. He said any article 50 extension would have to be “useful” and “serve a purpose”. |
| Any extension has to be useful and serve a purpose. Our common purpose is to get the ratification of the withdrawal agreement. | |
| This withdrawal agreement is the only was to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK which is our common purpose. | |
| As he arrives at the EU summit, Michel Barnier says "any extension has to be useful and serve a purpose"Get live updates as Theresa May asks EU leaders to delay Brexit until 30 June https://t.co/1qEIEYOoan pic.twitter.com/Z5VZa1WTNW | As he arrives at the EU summit, Michel Barnier says "any extension has to be useful and serve a purpose"Get live updates as Theresa May asks EU leaders to delay Brexit until 30 June https://t.co/1qEIEYOoan pic.twitter.com/Z5VZa1WTNW |
| This is from Preben Aamann, Donald Tusk’s spokesman. EU leaders have just started the first item on the summit agenda - a meeting with Antonio Tajani, president of the European parliament. | This is from Preben Aamann, Donald Tusk’s spokesman. EU leaders have just started the first item on the summit agenda - a meeting with Antonio Tajani, president of the European parliament. |
| Tusk has just started the special #euco on #Brexit. First an exchange of views with @EP_President Tajani. | Tusk has just started the special #euco on #Brexit. First an exchange of views with @EP_President Tajani. |
| Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, proposed “an intelligent extension” as he arrived at the summit. Asked what length extension he favoured, he said: | Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, proposed “an intelligent extension” as he arrived at the summit. Asked what length extension he favoured, he said: |
| I would support an intelligent extension. If it’s long or short, the main point for me is that we have European elections. You can’t be a member and have no elections ... | I would support an intelligent extension. If it’s long or short, the main point for me is that we have European elections. You can’t be a member and have no elections ... |
| If there is a longer extension, there is no lunch for free. So we need to know why, the reason they need a longer extension. | If there is a longer extension, there is no lunch for free. So we need to know why, the reason they need a longer extension. |
| He also said that he hoped Brexit would be a “friendly divorce”. | He also said that he hoped Brexit would be a “friendly divorce”. |
| Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, was more reflective than most of the other EU leaders when he spoke to reporters on the way in. Here are the main points he made. | Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, was more reflective than most of the other EU leaders when he spoke to reporters on the way in. Here are the main points he made. |
| Varadkar said he was “very confident” that the UK would be offered another extension and that there would not be a no-deal this Friday. But what he did not know was how long the extension would last, or what conditions would be attached. | Varadkar said he was “very confident” that the UK would be offered another extension and that there would not be a no-deal this Friday. But what he did not know was how long the extension would last, or what conditions would be attached. |
| He said the “vast majority” of people in the EU were sympathetic to Britain’s plight. He said: | He said the “vast majority” of people in the EU were sympathetic to Britain’s plight. He said: |
| I think the vast majority of people here in the European Union appreciate that the United Kingdom is in a difficult position. It does not want to leave without a deal at the moment, it doesn’t want to vote for the deal and of course a lot of people, maybe even half the population, don’t want to leave at all. So I believe the consensus here in Brussels, and across the European Union, will be to give the United Kingdom a little bit more time for the cross-party talks that are happening to conclude. And we can review the situation then in a few months’ time. | I think the vast majority of people here in the European Union appreciate that the United Kingdom is in a difficult position. It does not want to leave without a deal at the moment, it doesn’t want to vote for the deal and of course a lot of people, maybe even half the population, don’t want to leave at all. So I believe the consensus here in Brussels, and across the European Union, will be to give the United Kingdom a little bit more time for the cross-party talks that are happening to conclude. And we can review the situation then in a few months’ time. |
| He said he wanted to see the UK in a customs union with the EU, and that the EU should agree to let the UK have a say when it negotiates trade deals. He explained: | He said he wanted to see the UK in a customs union with the EU, and that the EU should agree to let the UK have a say when it negotiates trade deals. He explained: |
| One thing I would like to be considered, and I know it is under consideration, is the possibility of a customs union being formed between the United Kingdom and the EU. Ultimately the European Union, we are the biggest trading bloc in the world. We trade more than China. We’ve a bigger population than the US. And, in a world of big blocs, it’s in the interests of the UK to be part of one of those blocs. It is also in our interests to have the UK in our bloc. I think we would be generous negotiating that, understanding that the UK could not be a silent partner in such an arrangement. It would have to have a say in decisions being made. | One thing I would like to be considered, and I know it is under consideration, is the possibility of a customs union being formed between the United Kingdom and the EU. Ultimately the European Union, we are the biggest trading bloc in the world. We trade more than China. We’ve a bigger population than the US. And, in a world of big blocs, it’s in the interests of the UK to be part of one of those blocs. It is also in our interests to have the UK in our bloc. I think we would be generous negotiating that, understanding that the UK could not be a silent partner in such an arrangement. It would have to have a say in decisions being made. |
| Because of the shared border, Ireland would benefit more than any other EU economy from having the UK in the customs union, and so Varadkar’s support for the idea is not surprising. But this may be the first time he has floated the idea of the UK being able to have a say over EU trade policy as a third country. This is something that the Labour party is also proposing, as part of its customs union plan, but until now it has generally been seen as an unrealistic demand in Brussels. | Because of the shared border, Ireland would benefit more than any other EU economy from having the UK in the customs union, and so Varadkar’s support for the idea is not surprising. But this may be the first time he has floated the idea of the UK being able to have a say over EU trade policy as a third country. This is something that the Labour party is also proposing, as part of its customs union plan, but until now it has generally been seen as an unrealistic demand in Brussels. |
| Varadkar said Britain’s adversarial political system was part of the problem. He said that he understood Theresa May’s difficulties, because he does not have a majority in parliament either. He went on: | Varadkar said Britain’s adversarial political system was part of the problem. He said that he understood Theresa May’s difficulties, because he does not have a majority in parliament either. He went on: |
| Perhaps other countries in Europe, including Ireland, have more of a tradition of political parties working together and compromising. The British approach to politics is much more adversarial. I’m not sure, on balance, that’s actually in the UK’s longterm interests. | Perhaps other countries in Europe, including Ireland, have more of a tradition of political parties working together and compromising. The British approach to politics is much more adversarial. I’m not sure, on balance, that’s actually in the UK’s longterm interests. |
| Here are some extracts from what Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said as she arrived at the summit. | Here are some extracts from what Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said as she arrived at the summit. |
| Merkel bei EU-Gipfel in Brüssel: "Wir sollten offen und konstruktiv mit der Bitte der britischen Premierministerin um Verlängerung umgehen. Ein geordnetes Ausscheiden Großbritanniens aus der EU ist auch in unserem Interesse." #Brexit | Merkel bei EU-Gipfel in Brüssel: "Wir sollten offen und konstruktiv mit der Bitte der britischen Premierministerin um Verlängerung umgehen. Ein geordnetes Ausscheiden Großbritanniens aus der EU ist auch in unserem Interesse." #Brexit |
| Anyone wondering what Merkel said: "We should be open and constructive with the British Prime minister's Request for An extension. An orderly Withdrawal of Britain from the EU is also in our Interest. " #Brexit https://t.co/5awVIPzWOQ | Anyone wondering what Merkel said: "We should be open and constructive with the British Prime minister's Request for An extension. An orderly Withdrawal of Britain from the EU is also in our Interest. " #Brexit https://t.co/5awVIPzWOQ |