Reuters, Brussels :
British Prime Minister Theresa May made clear her desire on Thursday to move Brexit talks forward to a discussion of a future trade relationship at a dinner with EU leaders who applauded her for progress made so far.
A day after she suffered a defeat in parliament over her blueprint for quitting the EU, May told her peers at a summit in Brussels that she was on course to deliver Brexit and urged them to speed up the talks to unravel more than 40 years of union.
Offering her reassurance that they will endorse on Friday the launch of a second phase of negotiations on a free trade pact and an initial transition period, leaders responded to May’s remarks by a brief round of applause before she was to leave the summit to allow them to discuss Brexit without her.
A British government official said the prime minister made “no secret of wanting to move on to the next phase and to approaching it with ambition and creativity”.
“I believe this is in the best interests of the UK and the European Union,” she told the leaders over a dinner of roasted langoustine and capon chicken. “A particular priority should be agreement on the implementation period so we can bring greater certainty to businesses in the UK and across the 27,” she added.
Officials said German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated May on bringing the negotiations last week to the stage of “sufficient progress” that will enable leaders to accept opening the next phase of talks.
Summit chair Donald Tusk will call May on Friday to update her after leaders have discussed their next moves on Brexit.
British Prime Minister Theresa May made clear her desire on Thursday to move Brexit talks forward to a discussion of a future trade relationship at a dinner with EU leaders who applauded her for progress made so far.
A day after she suffered a defeat in parliament over her blueprint for quitting the EU, May told her peers at a summit in Brussels that she was on course to deliver Brexit and urged them to speed up the talks to unravel more than 40 years of union.
Offering her reassurance that they will endorse on Friday the launch of a second phase of negotiations on a free trade pact and an initial transition period, leaders responded to May’s remarks by a brief round of applause before she was to leave the summit to allow them to discuss Brexit without her.
A British government official said the prime minister made “no secret of wanting to move on to the next phase and to approaching it with ambition and creativity”.
“I believe this is in the best interests of the UK and the European Union,” she told the leaders over a dinner of roasted langoustine and capon chicken. “A particular priority should be agreement on the implementation period so we can bring greater certainty to businesses in the UK and across the 27,” she added.
Officials said German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated May on bringing the negotiations last week to the stage of “sufficient progress” that will enable leaders to accept opening the next phase of talks.
Summit chair Donald Tusk will call May on Friday to update her after leaders have discussed their next moves on Brexit.
