The EU27 European ministers broadly support a draft conclusions document for the European Summit that announces the EU27’s desire to do internal preparatory work on the second phase of talks between the United Kingdom and the European Union, explained Estonian European minister Maati Maasikas in Luxembourg on Tuesday 17 Octobre after the General Affairs Council.
The ministers all recognised, however, that not enough progress has been made at this stage on major aspects of the EU-UK divorce package (citizens’ rights, the Irish question and the Brexit budget balance) to be able to actually enter the next stage of the talks on a transition phase and future bilateral trade relations. They did, however, agree to start preparing for the negotiating mandate to be conferred on Michel Barnier.
At the European Summit at the end of the week, the EU27 is due therefore to give a little breathing space to the British PM, Theresa May, whose speech in Florence (see EUROPE 11868) made it possible to consider that an agreement might be reached, explained a diplomatic source on Tuesday. Before the speech, many leaders feared that no agreement would be reached, added the source.
On Friday, meeting for Article 50 talks, the EU27 is due to state that they agree to begin internal preparations for setting the negotiating mandate for Michel Barnier for the second phase of the negotiations. This green light does not signify the start of trade talks as such, but if there is enough progress, Michel Barnier’s new mandate will be ready in December, in order not to waste time, and the EU27 would then be able to adopt new negotiating guidelines, notes a draft conclusions document dated Monday 16 October.
The above source says that at this stage, there is no guarantee that the British will have done enough when December comes round. She said they were not confident but hoped it would be the case.
At the European Summit, Theresa May is expected to speak at the leaders’ dinner on Thursday evening in order to spell out her Brexit strategy. The EU27 will then meet in Article 50 format (the 27 heads of state) on Friday 20 October to discuss progress in the talk and adopt a conclusions document.
The British PM, Theresa May, and the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said on Monday 16 October that they had agreed to accelerate efforts to reach a Brexit deal. In a brief joint statement published after their dinner, the two politicians explained they had also discussed international issues in an amiable and constructive climate.
In Luxembourg, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, who also attended the dinner in Brussels, agreed that the talks had been friendly. He said the EU was ready to intensify the talks a month ago, but it takes two to tango on acceleration.
Michel Barnier said everything needed to be done over the next two months to preserve the positive dynamic provided by Theresa May in her Florence speech. He rejected accusations that it was the EU that was delaying matters.
The EU isn’t delaying anything, said Michel Barnier, pointing out that the EU had only waited until now because the letter notifying Article 50 was not sent by the British until 29 March, nearly a year after the June 2016 Brexit referendum, and the EU had also had to wait because of the June 2017 general elections.
The draft EU27 conclusions document on Brexit can be found at: http://bit.ly/2go4mDm (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)