Brussels - European Union leaders have unanimously agreed the negotiating guidelines for Brexit talks with UK. European Council President Donald Tusk, chairing the talks in Brussels, tweeted that the "firm and fair political mandate" for the talks was ready. The 27 leaders took less 15 minutes to approve the draft guidelines for the negotiations, which were issued on 31 March by Mr Tusk. Talks with the UK will begin after the general election on 8 June.
In a letter to the leaders of the EU-27 ahead of the summit, Mr Tusk wrote that progress on "people, money and Ireland" must come before negotiations on the EU's future relationship with the UK. As she arrived in Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated that only once substantial progress had been made on the separation talks with the UK, could negotiations turn to the UK's future relationship with the EU. The separation talks will seek to agree the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, as well as Britons living in the EU, plus a settlement for the UK's financial obligations as an EU member state. A deal must also be agreed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Mr Tusk wrote. French President Francois Hollande said there would inevitably be "a price and a cost for the UK - it's the choice that was made". "We must not be punitive, but at the same time it's clear that Europe knows how to defend its interests, and that Britain the UK will have a less good position tomorrow outside the EU than today in the EU."
Brexit timetable:
29 April - EU leaders (excluding the UK) meet in Brussels to adopt Brexit negotiating guidelines
7 May - French voters decide between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen as their next president
8 June - UK parliamentary election - Brexit talks to start soon after the vote
24 September - German parliamentary election, with Mrs Merkel seeking a fourth term
29 March 2019 - Deadline for ending talks on UK exit terms (any extension requires agreement of all member states)
May or June 2019 - European Parliament election (without UK)
Ratification - Any Brexit deal requires ratification by all EU's national parliaments and European Parliament (FA)
