Proceed with caution: EU leaders give thumbs-up to second phase of Brexit talks
EU leaders have given the green light for the second phase of Brexit talks to begin, the president of the European Council said today.
Donald Tusk congratulated Theresa May as he announced on Twitter that leaders had agreed to move on to the next stage, which are expected to focus on trade and the all-important transition period.
EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) December 15, 2017
Tusk’s annoucnement came shortly after European President Jean-Claude Juncker signalled an end to the fractious relationship between the EU and the UK demonstrated during the first stage of talks by saying he has “extraordinary faith” in Theresa May.
Reuters reported him saying:
I have extraordinary faith in the British Prime Minister. She has agreed with me and Mr Barnier that the withdrawal agreement will first be formalised and will be voted on and then we will see.
The second phase will be significantly harder than the first and the first was very difficult.
Juncker’s vote of confidence came just over 24 hours after Tory rebels scuppered the government’s EU Withdrawal Bill on the eve of May’s trip to the European Council.
The rebels, including Stephen Hammond and Anna Soubry, were accused of “treachery” after they voted in favour of an amendment to the bill by Dominic Grieve which sought a “meaningful” vote on the final Brexit deal.
Read more: Seizing the opportunities of Brexit for Brand Britain