David Davis and Michel Barnier joke about the mountain they have to climb getting a Brexit deal by exchanging hiking gifts
In a clear reference to his EU counterpart's claim talks would be a ‘steep and rocky path’ the keen yompers swapped books and a walking stick as negotiations get underway
DAVID Davis and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier nodded to the mountain they have to climb by exchanging hiking gifts on the first day of official Brexit talks.
In a clear reference to the European chief negotiator's claim that Brexit would be a "steep and rocky path", the keen yompers swapped books and a walking stick.
A British source close to the talks said: "Both gifts reflected their shared love of climbing and mountaineering."
Mr Barnier, who prepared for the opening of negotiations by spending the weekend in the French Alps, presented Mr Davis with a traditional walking stick from the Savoie region made from wood, hand carved and with a leather wrist strap.
Meanwhile Mr Davis, who spent the weekend working on his tactics at home in his Yorkshire constituency, gave the EU’s chief negotiator a rare book on mountaineering.
The French language version of Regards vers Annapurna - the story of a French expedition to the Himalayas in the 1950s - was signed by author Marcel Ichac.
The pair later lunched on Belgian asparagus, red mullet and meringue cakes between the talks.
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It is not the first time references to walking have cropped up during the Brexit process.
Upon discovering Prime Minister Theresa May was a keen walker, Mr Barnier said in April: "If you like walking in the mountains, you have to learn a certain number of rules.
"You have to learn to put one foot in front of the other, because sometimes you are on a steep and rocky path.”
In a clear reference to the coming negotiations, he added: "You also have to look at what accidents might befall you, falling rocks.
"You have to be very careful to keep your breath, you have to have stamina because it could be a lengthy path.
"And you have to keep looking at the summit, the outcome."
Too hot for booze in Brussels
EU officials were told to sit in the dark and not to drink booze at work today, as Brexit talks opened in a sweltering Brussels.
An official edict told Eurocrats to turn off the lights and lay off the wine as temperatures hit 30 degrees in the Belgian capital, writes Harry Cole.
And Euro officials were even told they could clock off early if they got too hot.
With the nitty gritty of Brexit negotiations finally getting underway at the same time as Europe fried in a heatwave, the staff memo was sent from the EU Committee of the Regions.
It read: "You are advised not to drink alcohol, and to eat light meals.
"Keep the windows closed and the blinds down.
"You can also switch off the lights."
And as soon as the temperature hits 30 degrees, bosses were told their staff can walk out.
However not everyone paid attention to the no booze rule - with the cafeteria of the EU Commission headquarters doing a steady trade in aperitifs and wine during lunchtime on Monday.
Arriving for the opening round of talks, Mr Davis defied EU critics to insist Britain can win a good Brexit deal despite Mrs May’s political turmoil in London as historic talks begin.
EU officials feared ahead of the first talks that the PM's "impossible position" put her in "hell" ahead of the crucial negotiations.
But 81 days since Mrs May officially triggered the two year Article 50 exit process, the Brexit Secretary arrived in Brussels to pledge to battle for Britain "in a positive and constructive tone."
Hitting back at critics he added the UK was "determined to build a strong and special partnership between ourselves and our European allies and friends for the future."
Speaking ahead of the talks Mr Davis said seeking a “deal like no other in history” as our landmark EU divorce talks finally get under way today.
The opening skirmish was set to cover the status of expats, the “divorce bill” slapped on us by the EU and what to do about the Northern Ireland border.
Mr Davis – who has been tipped as the frontrunner to take over as Conservative party leader – said he would hammer out a “bold and ambitious deal” for the UK.
However EU Commission sources hit out claiming "Clearly the Brits are not ready yet and it’s a pity.
“Everybody has sympathy for May now because she put herself in an impossible situation’
A source told website Politico: “Where she is now, nobody can help her. It’s just hell.”