“It’s absolutely clear that our procedures, our rules, described very precisely in our treaties, are to protect our interests, of the 27 countries, not the leaving country”, Tusk told a news conference in Bratislava after the first meeting of European Union leaders with Britain after the June 23 Brexit referendum.
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‘She declared that it’s nearly impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it’s quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January, maybe in February next year’.
However, a Downing Street source said on Saturday that the prime minister did not specifically mention January or February at the meeting and that Tusk’s comments were an “interpretation” of their conversation.
The delay is causing concern in Britain among Eurosceptics who would like to see Article 50 triggered sooner.
Jean-Claude Juncker, who is in Bratislava for the first summit of European Union leaders without the United Kingdom, suggested there was no prospect of compromise between the two.
A future trade deal with Britain was not on the agenda at the summit, which focused on the challenges the European Union faces as a result of the Brexit vote – especially from migration.
In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Mr Fico said Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia would be uncompromising in negotiations. “We have to show with our actions that we can get better”, Merkel said as she arrived at the special summit, held in the Slovak capital’s towering castle overlooking the River Danube. “But we respect the needs of our British colleagues.Our British colleagues need more time to prepare themselves”.
May has indicated that in any negotiations, her government would insist on placing curbs on European Union citizens entering the UK.
The European commission and parliament, in addition to the 27 remaining member states who must ratify a future Brexit trade deal, have repeatedly made clear that enhanced access to the single market will not be on offer unless Britain accepts free movement.
While Bratislava’s location straddling the old border between east and west Europe is a powerful reminder of how far the continent has come since the fall of communism, it also suggests the new challenges facing the EU. Our position is clear.
But at the same time, Europe was ready to stand on its own two feet if need be, he said, apparently referring to remarks by US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that in a crisis the US-led alliance might think of its own interests first before its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commitments. “That will be a crucial point for us in negotiations”.
Yet European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker insisted in his main annual speech on Wednesday that the EU was “not at risk”, as he proposed a host of economic and security measures.
With Britain’s withdrawal process clouded in confusion and no clear signal on whether the country intends to stay in the single market or not, Europe’s leaders face a hard task plotting a way forward.
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He added there was “no room for compromise” on the issue.
