After three rounds of negotiations, Brexit talks have reached an impasse. That is the view of the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and that is why he was not particularly optimistic about Theresa May's speech in Florence on Friday. "The speech shows a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence," noted Barnier. While the UK prime minister had delivered her much-anticipated address, he said she must now prove her "constructive spirit" and put forth concrete proposals. Why Florence? May chose the Italian Renaissance city as the backdrop for her speech because of its history as a trading power, according to 10 Downing Street. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Florence was practically the heart of European commerce. Perhaps the prime minister was hoping for a renaissance of her own in UK-EU relations. "We may be leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe," was the message May conveyed, as she so often has. So does Florence indeed symbolize … [Read more...] about EU expects concrete Brexit proposals from UK’s Theresa May
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Brexit talks: Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker pledge to ‘accelerate’ negotiations
British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jeade-Claude Juncker said on Monday that deadlocked talks over Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) "should accelerate over the months to come." The 90-minute dinner meeting between the two leaders in Brussels — which the British press had called "emergency talks" — took place at a crucial moment, just days before Britain and the EU meet for the sixth round of Brexit talks to try to break through the political standstill that has stalled negotiations and increased fears that Britain will crash out of the union without an agreement come March 2019. May's visit to the EU capital also included calls with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Irish premier, Leo Varadkar. A planned visit? The prime minister's office insisted that Monday's meeting between May and Juncker had been scheduled for weeks. However, it was not in Juncker's … [Read more...] about Brexit talks: Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker pledge to ‘accelerate’ negotiations
Brexit Diaries 15: Theresa May and Machiavellian intrigue
This last week was all about Theresa May. We saw the British prime minister in Brussels talking to four flower pots. Maybe because nobody will listen to her in her own government? Or was she silently praying to the God of small things to make her horrible day, the awful EU summit and the whole dreadful Brexit thing go away? Maybe May was considering quitting politics entirely, just getting up and leaving for a quiet life in the country with husband Philip. But as the dutiful daughter of a clergyman she stayed the course. History will decide whether she did herself, her country and the rest of us a favor or not. This was the week of the summit meeting where the EU and Britain were slowly getting hints of progress in the Brexit talks, with the hope of making enough headway by Christmas. Member states gave the green light for internal talks about the possible nature of a future deal. That was almost no news disguised as moderately good news. Loose talk or Machiavellian intrigue? Too … [Read more...] about Brexit Diaries 15: Theresa May and Machiavellian intrigue
Brexit: Dinner leaks, Twitter spats and a plea for certainty
The European Commission on Monday denied an account of a Brussels dinner last week during which May and Juncker discussed Brexit negotiations. Juncker's head of cabinet, German lawyer Martin Selmayr, took to Twitter to deny the leaking of the details which were published in Germany's Frankfurt Allgemeine (FAZ) newspaper. According to the FAZ, May was "begging for help" from Juncker, who described her to colleagues as being anxious, despondent and discouraged. Read more: Brexit diary 11: Brexit body language "It's an attempt to frame the EU side and to undermine talks," Selmayr said of the leaked report controversy. Selmayr was responding to an allegation from May's former chief-of-staff, Nick Timothy, also via Twitter, that he was behind the leak. European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas repeated the denial. "We have lots of work and no time for gossip," he said. He declined to say who might wish the Commission ill but added that Juncker would "never have … [Read more...] about Brexit: Dinner leaks, Twitter spats and a plea for certainty
‘Miracles’ needed to advance Brexit talks by October deadline
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said it was highly unlikely negotiations on Britain's split from the EU could expand by the end of October to include a future trade relationship as planned. "We will not have sufficient progress," Juncker said as he arrived for an EU summit in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, on Friday. "I'm saying there will be no sufficient progress from now until October unless miracles will happen." Negotiators from both sides wrapped up the a fourth round of Brexit talks this week in Brussels, saying that although they had made some headway, it was not enough to move on to other questions. Britain wants to advance as fast as possible to the next stage of discussions, which would address its future relationship with the bloc, as well as a future trade deal. But the EU has insisted there must first be progress on three key issues: the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and Britons living in Europe, a financial settlement, … [Read more...] about ‘Miracles’ needed to advance Brexit talks by October deadline