Brussels Brexit business grinds to halt while EU awaits May's plan
GETTY Brexit news: EU officials are waiting for Theresa May to release white paper as negotiations falter
The EU27’s leaders have voiced their concern about the lack of progress made in negotiations over crunch issues, such as the Irish border, and behind closed doors are fearing the Brexit withdrawal agreement will not be concluded by the perceived October deadline. Many of the Theresa May’s European counterparts are pinning their hopes on the release of Westminster’s white paper and see it as a pivotal stage as negotiations appear to be faltering. All eyes will be on the Prime Minister as she gathers her divided Cabinet at her countryside retreat Chequers in order to find common ground and hammer out the final details of the UK’s blueprint for a post-Brexit plan. Eagerly awaiting the Westminster release, EU diplomats have put Brexit on the back burner until further information is available from Britain.
We are going to be publishing our white paper shortly, and I want to see the negotiations accelerating and intensifying thereafter Theresa May
One diplomat revealed there is not much to talk about without the Prime Minister putting a concrete proposal on the table. Another welcomed the pending release, insisting it is about time that Britain tables a proposal rather than the country’s leaders just outlining positions in speeches. The source added: “As it stands, a conclusion of the withdrawal agreement in October seems to be less likely than some weeks ago.” According to one EU official, there are also concerns that Mrs May’s white paper will fail to clear up crucial aspects of the divorce negotiations – including governance and the Irish border backstop.
EU Summit 2018 LIVE pictures as talks progress to Brexit Fri, June 29, 2018 EU countries' leaders meet on 28 and 29 June for a summit to discuss migration in general, the installation of asylum-seeker processing centres in northern Africa, and other security- and economy-related topics including Brexit. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 36 Hungarian Prime Minister Vickor Orban talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator, is said to have invited Brexit Secretary David Davis to Brussels for a round of talks, later saying the opportunity was turned down by his British counterpart. An EU official said Britain had been invited for talks but turned down the offer, insisting they are only available after July 16. At the recent June European Council summit, Mr Barnier said: “We are waiting for the UK white paper and I hope it will contain workable and realistic proposals. “But, let me mention once again the time is very short. We want a deal and we are working for a deal, we are ready to invite the UK delegation back next Monday (July 2).”