“As the prime minister and Jean-Claude Juncker made clear, this was a constructive meeting ahead of the negotiations formally getting underway.”
On Sunday, on television news talk shows, Mrs. May acknowledged
that the talks would be difficult but said to the BBC, “I’m not in a different galaxy, but I think what this shows, and what some of the other comments we’ve seen coming from European leaders shows, is that there are going to be times when these negotiations are going to be tough.”
She insisted that Britain could secure a comprehensive trade deal with the European Union alongside the divorce negotiations
and complete everything in two years, with an “implementation period.”
Brussels officials regard that as unrealistic and point to the bloc’s “Brexit” negotiating guidelines, which mandate
that talks on a future relationship can begin only after “sufficient progress” has been on three major issues: guaranteeing the rights of citizens of European Union member states living in Britain; settling the divorce bill; and safeguarding the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The paper reported that Mrs. May said at one point, “Let’s make Brexit a success.” Mr. Juncker was said to have replied, “Brexit cannot be a success.”
Mrs. May was said to have called for working on a trade deal simultaneously with talks on Britain’s exit, arguing
that since Britain is already a member and merely wants to leave, a trade deal should be much easier to complete.
Are Said to Be Miles Apart on ‘Brexit’ Talks -
By STEVEN ERLANGERMAY 1, 2017
LONDON — No one expects negotiations over Britain’s exit from the European Union to go smoothly over the next two years, but a German newspaper’s account of a dinner last Wednesday between the British prime minister, Theresa May, and senior European Union officials suggests
that round one, at least, was particularly discordant.