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European Union: European Union's Tusk Says Unity Crucial For Positive Outcome Of Brexit Talks

2017/05/17

Unity part all EU nations was vital for ensuring a positive outcome of the exit negotiations with the United Kingdom, European Council President Donald Tusk said Wednesday.

"Our unity is the majority significant condition for the positive outcome of the negotiations," Tusk said in a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.

He was reporting the outcome of the initial formal conference of the European Council of 27 that took place on April 29.

"What was - and remains - most significant for me, is that our conduct in these talks will show the European Union at its best: in terms of unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom," Tusk said.

He stressed that the Brexit talks will be conducted on a 'phased approach', meaning that next relations with the UK will be discussed only next sufficient evolution is made on ensuring and orderly exit from the European Union.

"Today it is too early to tell much additional about our common next, but we will make our guidelines additional precise at the same time as the time comes, namely at the same time as sufficient evolution in the initial phase is completed," the top EU official said.

Tusk reiterated that there was the need in the initial phase to acknowledge that all financial commitments undertaken by the EU of 28 will as well be honoured by the UK.

Further, talks must be aimed to avoid a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, he said.

He as well stressed that there will be very little time to conclude withdrawal talks within the framework foreseen by the EU Treaty, which is until March 2019.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said during the session that the proceedings in the Brexit thus far have shown that "how united and prepared the European Union will be".

"This negotiation is presently in the hands of our capable divorce lawyers," Juncker added.

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