Tusk tweeted that a quick initiation of negotiations was in “everyone’s interest”, and maintained that the EU’s goal was to establish the closest possible relations with Britain.
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Tokyo has issued its boldest warning yet over the potential fallout from Brexit, saying Japanese firms may shift key operations from Britain to Europe if they lose free access to the single market.
The topic is nearly certain to come up if Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and British leader Theresa May hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 talks in Hangzhou.
May told lawmakers on Wednesday that her government would “think through the issues in a sober and considered way”.
Davis told the House of Commons on Monday it would be “very improbable” that the United Kingdom would retain access to free trade with the 27-member bloc after Brexit if the United Kingdom wanted to regain control over its borders.
Mr Fox told MPs on Thursday morning that he was not looking to create “a standing army of bureaucrats” to negotiate Brexit.
British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at a news conference after the closing of G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, September 5, 2016.
“If we voted “no” to that deal – if that’s not satisfactory to the British people – we’d remain members of the European Union”.
Ahead of the meeting, Tusk told May that “the ball is now in your court” to start negotiations.
Now Australian minister Steven Ciobo has made it clear during a visit to London that only “preliminary” discussions are possible at this stage.
Mr Tusk – who oversaw the UK’s European Union renegotiation prior to the in/out referendum – has said he wants to see a “velvet divorce” between the United Kingdom and European Union, but he has also insisted that there will be no formal talks until the United Kingdom triggers the formal process for leaving under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
“Voting for departure is not the same as voting for a destination”.
In a sign that Brussels is growing impatient with the UK, Tusk added it was a “crucial time” for the UK and for the EU.
MPs may also quiz Mrs May on a new UK-Australia working group to focus on “scoping out” a free trade agreement between the two countries.
“Voters will, if we try to ignore it, rightly ask, “What part of the word ‘leave” is so hard for you all to understand?’ We’ve been given our marching orders, ladies and gentlemen”. Ministers will meet twice a year to monitor progress.
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“We want the working group to advance an agenda that will ensure the expeditious transition to FTA negotiations when the United Kingdom has formally completed its negotiations to exit the European Union”, said Dr Fox and Mr Ciobo in a statement.
