The remaining 27 EU countries adopted Brexit negotiating guidelines in a show of unity ahead of talks with Britian, announced the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on Saturday.
“Guidelines adopted unanimously. EU27 firm and fair political mandate for the #Brexit talks is ready,” Tusk tweeted as leaders met in Brussels.
Guidelines call for a “phased approach,” noting that progress must first be made on issues like citizens’ rights and a financial settlement before negotiations on a possible trade agreement can begin. The guidelines also underscored that a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland must be avoided.
“We are ready,” said the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. “We are together.”
The announcement came as the 27 EU nations met in Brussels without British Prime Minister Theresa May, one month after she triggered two years of exit talks on March 29.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker hailed the summit’s agreement, noting in a Tweet that it took under 15 minutes for leaders to approve. He said it showed “unity in action.”
Tusk earlier noted that leaders “need to remain united as the EU 27″ but that EU unity is also in Britain’s interest” since it could boost chances for a swift Brexit deal.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed those comments, saying that although the bloc wants to have “good relations” with Britain, “we as 27 also want to represent our interests. That has succeeded extremely well so far.”
Some of the leaders were already discussing how to deal with British negotiation tactics. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel warned that London may try to divide the bloc to its advantage.
“Maybe the British government will do its utmost to split the 27 nations and it is trap we need to avoid,” Michel said.
Drawing clear lines
Tusk said that the first priority will be to ensure the rights of EU and British citizens living on each other’s side who will be immediately impacted by the split. Around 3 million citizens from the remaining EU 27 nations live in the UK while up to 2 million Britons live on the continent.
The EU is also set on making the UK pay for the divorce, which some estimates have placed as high as 60 billion euros ($65 billion).
“If you are no longer part of a club, it has consequences. A Brexit for free is not possible,” Belgian Prime Minister Michel said.
Although the EU guidelines say that trade talks cannot begin without “sufficient progress” on the divorce issues, leaders were still discussing how to define such progress.
Divorce talks with the British government are expected to begin after the UK holds snap elections on June 8, but the EU is due to give an official mandate to Barnier on May 22. – DW.
