German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured) said on Friday (20 October) that the European Union could only agree to enter the next phase of Brexit negotiations in December if Britain provided specific assurances about its readiness to settle financial obligations to the bloc, writes Noah Barkin.
Speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day EU summit in Brussels, Merkel said it was “very clear” what British Prime Minister Theresa May had to do to break a deadlock in the talks that has prevented a discussion about Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the bloc, known as “phase two”.
“We hope that by December we have moved along enough to allow phase two to begin but that depends on the extent to which Great Britain makes progress so that we can say that it is sufficient on the core themes of phase one,” Merkel told a news conference at the end of an EU summit.
She said that the main obstacle was Britain’s failure so far to signal a readiness to settle financial obligations to the bloc that EU officials estimate at around €60 billion. May, under severe domestic pressure after a botched election in June that saw her Conservatives lose their majority, has said that Britain will stand by its financial commitments to the EU without offering figures. “I think it is very clear what additional steps need to be taken,” Merkel said.
Asked about suggestions from May that Britain could pursue a two-year transitional deal once it leaves the bloc in 2019 in order to buy time to clinch a more comprehensive agreement, Merkel said this was not the primary focus for now. “The two-year transition phase is an interesting idea, no question. But it is not part of phase one of the negotiations,” she said. “So it is there in the room and will be discussed at the proper time.”
However, European Council president Donald Tusk announced on Twitter: "Brexit conclusions adopted. Leaders green-light internal EU-27 preparations for 2nd phase."
It came minutes before Theresa May gave a speech saying she was "ambitious and positive" about negotiations but that there is still "some way to go".The Prime Minister claimed there were only "small issues" on citizens' rights left to resolve and insisted the key 'sufficient progress' motion needed to trigger phase-two talks was "within touching distance".She added the EU did "not need to be concerned" about its budget plan, which the UK signed up to until 2020."We will be going line by line through those commitments," she said.Advertisement
:: Ex-MI6 chief suggests Brexit may not happen
:: PM's offer to EU citizens ahead of crunch summit
Despite Mr Tusk's announcement, the EU-27 have formally delayed a decision on progressing talks until another summit in December.
"Against this background, the European Council invites the Council (Art. 50) together with the Union negotiator to start internal preparatory discussions," a document released on Friday said.
Labour MP Heidi Alexander likened Mrs May to "a teenager trying to get away with handing in their homework late".
"It is nauseating to see ministers who told us that Brexit would be easy now trying to spin this failed summit as a success," she said.
"To have not made sufficient progress in negotiations 16 months after the referendum is an unambiguous failure."
Mrs May has left the summit, but the remaining European leaders are still locked in talks on subjects including the migration crisis and Catalonia.
Share this article:
