EUROPEAN UNION: A fourth round of talks opened in Brussels on Monday …
- London conditioned the agreement on the “invoice” the departure of its EU countries to agree on “a new partnership” between London and Brussels
- This position is contrary to that advocated by the Europeans
We take the same and start again! On Monday, Europeans and the British opened another round of negotiations in Brussels, this being the fourth round of Brexit talks, but both sides remain deadlocked, with London continuing to link the agreement to withdraw from the United Kingdom in discussions on the future relationship with the EU.
Consultations with European Parliament ahead of Round 4. #Brexit @Europarl_EN pic.twitter.com/ztfyVGrUjQ
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) 25 September 2017
In the wake of the speech of the Prime Minister Theresa May Friday in Italy, the UK Minister of Brexit David Davis promised on his arrival, that London “would honour the commitments (financial) taken during the period when we were members.”
Other priorities for European
“Obviously we can reach a conclusion about it only in the context and respect for our new and deep partnership with the EU” said David Davis at a press conference opening the new round of talks .
Its European counterpart Michel Barnier had to explain a few minutes earlier that the two subjects are not addressed simultaneously. “We do not will mix the discussion of the debts and commitments of the past, we do not will mix these subjects are part of the” orderly Brexit withdrawal “(UK), with a discussion on the future relationship,” said Michel Barnier.
The French want to make this fourth meeting in Brussels, have the “clarity”, six months after the beginning of the process, calling on the British to “translate” the words – deemed “constructive” – from Theresa May on Friday in Florence “in specific negotiating positions. ”
Pragmatism
David Davis conceded that progress in the talks would require “pragmatism on both sides.” The EU insists progress “significantly” on the three priority subjects set between the two parties – the right of citizens , Ireland , the Financial Regulation – before advancing to the next phase of discussions and address the nature of the future relationship between London and the European Union.
On the question of a transition period of two years for a full Brexit, referred to by Theresa May for the first time on Friday, Michel Barnier assured that this involved a “preliminary agreement” on these three points.
If the Europeans did not claim to set the amount to progress to the next phase of negotiations , they require to quickly define a “methodology” in calculating the amount of British commitments. On the European side, the financial divorce settlement was unofficially estimated between 60 and 100 billion euros, according to several sources.
The Daily Times, which claims that London has agreed to pay 40 billion pounds (45 billion euros), or 20 billion as a contribution to the EU budget, which runs until 2020, and 20 billion for other commitments, David Davis replied that the sum was “invented.”
European regime in transition
Furthermore, the transition period must be done under the EU rules, said on Monday by the EU’s chief negotiator. “If it is during this period to maintain the UK’s participation in the single market and the customs union (…), and policies that accompany the single market, it is clear that the entire architecture European regulation (implementation), financial conditions, supervision, all this will be maintained in that time without exception, “he said.
At the opening of negotiations, the goal was to complete the first phase in the Autumn to move the discussions on the nature of the future relationship between the Union and the UK, but hope to meet this schedule seem increasingly slim. “There has been some progress, but we really need to move forward now. Time is short, “pleaded the Estonian Minister Matti Maasikas, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
“We see a little clearer, but there is no precise elements” summarized the Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders. Last week, a senior European official said that the 27 would take “all the time we need” before embarking on the second phase of discussions. A meeting is also planned in London on Tuesday between Theresa May and Donald Tusk , President of the European Council body comprising leaders of EU states.
