May, Tusk to meet in London for Brexit talks

But in more conciliatory comments during overseas visits earlier this week, May suggested she was prepared to accept the extension of European Union rules on freedom of movement beyond March 2019, when the two-year Brexit process ends.

The EU wants a draft deal by October 2018 so that national leaders will have time to approve it before ratification by the European Parliament, most likely in early 2019. As a result, a transition agreement to bridge the gap between Brexit and the ratification of the deal is required, according to the FT.

“Both leaders agreed that the tone of discussions had been positive on both sides, and agreed that they would seek to remain in close touch as the negotiations progressed”, a Downing Street spokesman said. Theresa May said there would be an “implementation” phase once a deal had been struck, with business and governments needing a “period of time” to adjust to the new rules.

The remaining 27 European Union countries will rubber-stamp Mr Tusk’s guidelines at a summit on April 29, paving the way for Mr Barnier to begin formal negotiations with Britain at the end of next month.

British politician Nigel Farage was jeered by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) after he compared the EU to the Mafia.

“I really welcome the fact that the parliament and the (EU) Council have set that out as a first priority from the EU perspective as well”, Walker said.

Just 48 hours later, Mr Tusk’s draft negotiating guidelines handed Spain a veto on whether the deal applies to Gibraltar – effectively giving Madrid a veto on the whole deal as Britain has made clear this is unacceptable.

“A state outside the European Union cannot have the same or better conditions than a state within”, said Manfred Weber (CSU), agreeing with his Social Democrat (SPD) colleague Gianni Pittella.

The European parliament resolution also stressed that EU nations should not start bilateral deals with Britain before an exit agreement is finalised.

“The U.K. government will push for parallel negotiations on the withdrawal and the future relationship”, Michel Barnier told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

“What you could have done is acknowledge that we have put net over 200 billion sterling into this project, we’re actually shareholders. and you should be making us an offer we can’t refuse – to go”, he said, while calling the EU’s divorce demands “vindictive and nasty”.

“It’s common sense, it’s pragmatic for people, it’s pragmatic for businesses, and I believe that’s what we will be working for and it’s what both sides will be working for”. “We’re free to go”, Farage said to hoots from other legislators.