#Brexit: EU-27 finalize stance on negotiations

European Union EU-27 leaders have unanimously agreed the negotiating guidelines for Brexit talks with the UK.

European Council President Donald Tusk, chairing the talks in Brussels on 29 April, tweeted that the "firm and fair political mandate" for the talks was ready.

The 27 leaders - UK PM Theresa May was not present - approved within a minute the guidelines that were first issued on 31 March by Tusk.

Talks with the UK will begin after the general election on 8 June.

The deadline for completing the negotiations is 29 March 2019.

EU officials said leaders burst into applause as the negotiating stance was waved through.

The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said: "We are ready... we are together."

As she arrived in Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated that only once substantial progress had been made on the separation talks with the UK could negotiations turn to the UK's future relationship with the EU.

The 27 EU Remainer states are adamant that Britain will pay a price for leaving and will be worse off outside than the union than it is on the inside.

Britain certainly won't tamely accept that it has to pay a huge divorce bill - but it's likely to find the Europeans united on the concept if not the precise amount.

The separation talks will seek to agree the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, as well as Britons living in the EU, plus a settlement for the UK's financial obligations as an EU member state. A deal must also be agreed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Tusk wrote.

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