On Tuesday 31 January, the British press reported rumours that Prime Minister Theresa May could trigger article 50 of the Treaty of the EU at the European Summit of 9 March, a date that was described as a possibility by a European diplomat, but has not yet been confirmed.
This would put the triggering 16 days before the Summit of Rome, the anniversary summit of the eponymous treaty, during which the Twenty-Seven are expected to draw up a declaration on their future. And certain member states feel that it would be logical for May, who has in any case pledged to notify the withdrawal of the United Kingdom before the end of March, to sit out this Summit.
The question of the future of the EU without the United Kingdom will be discussed in Malta on Friday 3 February without May, who will participate only in the section on migration and attend the lunch on international issues.
The Twenty-Seven will start to prepare for the Summit of Rome and no specific discussion on Brexit is scheduled. However, the European leaders are expected to reiterate their unity and a few principles, such as the fact that London must finalise its divorce with the EU before it enters into any other free-trade agreements with third countries. The questions of the divorce and the future relationship between the EU in London cannot be dealt with in parallel, the diplomat explained.
On a trip to London, Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's negotiator, pointed out one truth: in the treaty, article 50 provides for an agreement to be reached on a withdrawal whilst taking the future into consideration, he said in a speech at the think tank Chatham House. However, even though the discussion is possible, any negotiation on this relationship may not start until the divorce has been finalised. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)