Theresa May shrugs off hardline Brexit demands from Brussels after EU politicians demand Britain ‘get serious’
The Prime Minister said any requests agreed by EU leaders were just a negotiating position - and insisted she was sticking to her own demands outlined earlier this year
DETERMINED Theresa May has shrugged off a series of Brexit demands from Brussels after meddling EU politicians demanded Britain "get serious" as they prepare to leave Europe.
The Prime Minister said any requests agreed by EU leaders were just a negotiating position - and insisted she was sticking to her own demands outlined earlier this year.
Tough-talking May also snubbed fears the UK could be "bullied by Brussels" as she claimed voters re-electing her was the best way to secure a good deal. EU leaders agreed their Brexit negotiation guidelines in four minutes — as the PM was told she will get nothing for free.
The 27 remaining nations put on a united front yesterday as they rubber-stamped their nine-page dossier on divorce talks.
But Brexit Secretary David Davis, who admitted discussions could be “confrontational”, responded by urging Europe’s elite not to put obstacles in the way of securing a deal.
Donald Tusk promised to deal with Britain ‘firmly’ during exit negotiations with the UK
Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel warned: “If you are no longer part of the club, it has consequences. A Brexit for free is not possible.”
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble had earlier said: “There is no free lunch. Britons must know that.”
The adoption of the guidelines means “significant progress” must be made before Britain can even discuss a trade deal with the EU.
Issues in the way include the rights of three million EU citizens left living in the UK and 1.5million Brits in Europe.
It comes after Donald Tusk announced how all leaders of the EU member countries had agreed to force through talks on citizens' rights, the Irish border and the divorce bill BEFORE starting any trade talks.
EU President Tusk said: "We need a serious British response. I want to assure you that as soon as Britain gives real guarantees for our citizens we will find a solution rapidly."
The guidelines suggest the Britain must make "sufficient progress" on these three issues before trade talks can begin.
The negotiating strategy also grants Spain a controversial veto over any future deal between the UK and EU regarding Gibraltar and confirm that a trade deal cannot be signed until Britain has left the bloc in March 2019.
When asked by the Sunday Telegraph about the "Brexit deal" from Brussels, May responded: "First of all I would point out we don’t have a Brexit deal on the table from Brussels.
“We have their negotiating guidelines, we have our negotiating guidelines through the Article 50 letter and the Lancaster House speech I gave on this issue in January.”
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Among May's Brexit priorities are "control of immigration” by ending free movement and “control of our own laws” by ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
She continued: "What matters sitting around that table is a strong Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with a strong mandate from the people of the United Kingdom which will strengthen our negotiating hand to ensure we get that possible deal.”
A senior Tory source told the paper that the Prime Minister would “protect Britain’s interests” at the negotiating table if re-elected but insisted the tone with Brussels would be “consensual”.
Around 25 citizens' rights have been outlined by the EU for Britain to agree to and they have warned Theresa May that any EU country could scupper the start of exit talks if they were unhappy.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU Commission President, said if Britain decided to haggle over the rights it would consume a "huge amount of time" with the Brexit negotiating period just two years long.
Speaking in a press conference, Mr Juncker said: “I have the impression some times that our British friends underestimate the technical difficulties we have to face.
“The single question of citizens' rights, in fact 25 different questions, which have to be solved. This will take time.”
Angela Merkel also tried to play down fears that the EU was working against Britain and said: “That we the 27 are allied and speak in one voice is the most normal thing in the world. But that hardly means that we are allied against someone.”
EU leader Donald Tusk has promised to deal with Britain “firmly” over Brexit as European Union leaders unanimously agreed strategy ahead of the exit talks.
He confirmed today's decision in a tweet that read: "Guidelines adopted unanimously. EU27 firm and fair political mandate for the #Brexit talks is ready."
A spokesman for Mr Tusk confirmed that there had been no changes to the draft guidelines published last month.
He said: "The guidelines are exactly as you have already seen them and there are no changes to the draft guidelines, they have been now adopted."
Following the summit agreement the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said: "We are ready. We are together."
The exit negotiation is planned for after the UK general election on June 8 but Tusk, President of the European Council, met with the European Union’s 27 other leaders for a summit in Brussels today.
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Tusk said: "We all want a close and strong future relationship with UK - there’s absolutely no question about that - but before discussing the future we have to sort out our past and we will handle it with genuine care, but firmly.”
Mr Tusk added that all countries “need solid guarantees for all citizens and their families who will be affected by Brexit on both sides. This must be the No. 1 priority.”
The Polish politician said a united Europe would also help Theresa May as she could count on political certainty throughout the talks..
He said: “Our unity is also in the U.K.'s interest. I feel strong support from all the EU institutions, including the European Parliament, as well as all the 27 member states. I know this is something unique and I am confident it will not change.”
The summit in Brussels comes just days after Theresa May had dinner with top EU officials in which German chancellor Angela Merkel warned Britain should have "no illusions" about Brexit.
The German finance minister also warned that there would be no "free lunch" for Britain.
The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier boasted: “We are ready. We are together.”
But Mr Davis said: “Both sides are clear. We want these negotiations to be conducted in the spirit of goodwill, sincere cooperation and with the aim of establishing a close partnership between the UK and the EU going forward.”
One solution to the Irish border problem is the reunification of Ireland which would avoid the issue of customs and immigration checkpoints on the politically sensitive frontier.
EU leaders are understood to be agreed that they would let Northern Ireland join Ireland as an EU country without having to apply for membership.
However, former Northern Ireland first minister Lord Trimble said there was no need to include a passage on the possibility of a united Ireland, saying it would only "stir up nationalist feeling".
The former Ulster Unionist leader told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "From the point of view of the Irish there is no need to introduce this, it's actually playing games with nationalist feelings and I wonder why the Irish government is doing this and why Europe is going along with it."
He went on: "Stirring up nationalist feeling is not necessarily a wise thing to do, but what I would like to do is to focus on the real issue, and the real issue in terms of the border is tariffs."
Another controversial move by European leaders in the negotiating guidelines is to give Spain a veto on any future agreement between Britain and the EU regarding Gibraltar.
Tensions have risen in the area with the Royal Navy chasing a Spanish warship out of Gibraltan waters for a third time this month.
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