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Brexit negotiations not ready for next stage yet - EU's Tusk

 

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, speaks to journalists outside 10 Downing Street after meeting Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, in London, September 26, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Sufficient progress has not yet been made in Brexit talks to allow negotiations to move to the next phase of discussing the future relationship including trade, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

 

After a meeting in Downing Street with British Prime Minister Theresa May, Tusk said he welcomed a new constructive and realistic tone from the government, adding that "this shows that the philosophy of having a cake and eating it is finally coming at an end - at least I hope so."

 

He added: "We will discuss our future relations with the UK once there is so-called sufficient progress. The sides are working and we work hard at it. But if you ask me... I would say there's no sufficient progress yet, but we will work on it."

 

Britain wants to move divorce talks on from settling budget commitments with the bloc and issues such as the future status of EU citizens living in the UK to discussions about future trade relations.

 

May, who hoped to give the negotiations a shot in the arm with a speech in Florence last week, signalled that from her perspective, it was now up to the EU side to bring something new to the table.

 

"At the end of the meeting (with Tusk), the PM said her Florence speech had been intended to create momentum in the ongoing talks," her Downing Street office said in a statement.

 

"She said it was important for EU negotiators to now respond in the same spirit,” it added.

 

May earlier told Tusk that Britain and EU could make Brexit a success if the two sides were creative.

 

"By being creative in the ways we approach these issues, we can find solutions that work both for the remaining (EU) 27 but also for the UK and maintain that cooperation and partnership between the UK and the EU," May said.

 

(Reporting by Kate Holton, Alistair Smout and Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-27

[Cuchulainn]

Give us an impression of lifting something heavy, Donald!

[sirineou]

This negotiations are as important to the EU as they are to the UK. They know that the UK is not the only one who likes cake. If they allow the UK to "have its cake and eat it too" ......... 

 

[alant]

What a set of bullies, trying to gang up on the one nation that has dared to point out their failings.

You pride will effect you just as much as it does the UK.

[terryw]

Time to prepare for a No Deal Brexit. The EU will keep making extra demands to string us along.

[HauptmannUK]

Nothing to be concerned about...

They need us more than we need them....

No deal better than a bad deal.....

Lots of countries queuing up for a 'free trade' deal with the UK....

etc

etc

[Laughing Gravy]

Best bit of news I have heard. Time to say bye bye EU. WTO hello.

[oldlakey]

2 hours ago, sirineou said:

This negotiations are as important to the EU as they are to the UK. They know that the UK is not the only one who likes cake. If they allow the UK to "have its cake and eat it too" ......... 

 

There are one or two countries who could provide mutual assistance for sure in a modern world, but its the rest of the riff-raff and hangers on we need to kick into touch

That is as soon as possible, and that is for nothing other than financial reasons

[dunroaming]

3 hours ago, sirineou said:

This negotiations are as important to the EU as they are to the UK. They know that the UK is not the only one who likes cake. If they allow the UK to "have its cake and eat it too" ......... 

 

That's right the EU are not going to give ground as they keep repeating.  The UK has to come up with their proposals to pay their dues and sort out the Irish border.  May said she would but Davis said they wouldn't until trade talks have taken place.  The whole thing is such a mess.  For those who think that Britain will walk away without a deal are living in cloud cuckoo land.

 

Meanwhile in the background Labour are gaining ground and that is something that is worrying.  The government are showing themselves to be incapable of negotiating anything over Brexit and everyone is fed up with the blathering and faffing about.