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Friday 15 december 2017 WORLD NEWS
A8

EU’s Tusk warns of bruising Brexit battle ahead 4 children dead in

bus-train collision
By RAF CASERT in south of France
LORNE COOK
Associated Press PARIS (AP) — A regional
BRUSSELS (AP) — European train hit a school bus on a
Union chief Donald Tusk crossing in southern France
warned Thursday of a bruis- Thursday, killing four chil-
ing Brexit battle ahead as dren and critically injuring
Britain and the remaining 11 other people on the
27 EU countries move onto bus, the French interior
to discussions over their fu- ministry said.
ture trade relations. Photos from the scene
As all 28 EU leaders, includ- tweeted by a local televi-
ing British Prime Minister sion station showed the
Theresa May, arrived in train derailed and the
Brussels for a summit meet- bus shorn in half — with
ing, Tusk urged the EU-27 to first responders gathered
continue to present a unit- around.
ed front in the Brexit talks. French Prime Minister Ed-
“Only when we are united ouard Philippe, who flew to
can we successfully per- the scene of the accident
form even the most difficult Thursday night, said that
issues and tasks,” said Tusk, authorities still don’t know
the EU’s Council President. what led to the accident
“I have no doubts that the European Council President Donald Tusk arrives for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels on the crossing in Millas,
real test of our unity will be on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. European Union leaders are gathering in Brussels and are set to move some 15 kilometers (9 miles)
the second phase of the Brexit talks into a new phase as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Theresa May over her plans to west of Perpignan, close to
Brexit talks.” take Britain out of the 28-nation bloc. the border with Spain.
On Friday, the EU is set to (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) Philippe said that the “cir-
give the go-ahead for talks the need to maintain an deal. Despite what is wide- Secretary Boris Johnson’s cumstances of this terrible
to start on the future trade open and frictionless bor- ly perceived as a major remark early in the Brexit drama are still undeter-
relationship, which is likely der between Ireland and setback for May, she said talks that Britons could mined.” He confirmed that
to be fraught given the po- Northern Ireland, and the on her arrival that “we are “have our cake and eat it” two inquiries are underway
tentially divisive and com- rights of citizens’ in each on course to deliver Brex- during the negotiations. In into the shocking acci-
plicated issues at hand. other’s territories. it.” Luxembourg’s prime the draft summit statement, dent that left four children
Since the EU nations have May is due to address EU minister, Xavier Bettel, said which could be modified dead, and injured twenty
widely diverging econom- leaders Thursday evening May’s defeat in parliament before Friday, the leaders others — including 11 seri-
ic relations with Britain — and welcome progress in will make her negotiating emphasize the importance ously.France’s SNCF na-
Germany sells a lot of cars the Brexit talks. So far, the stance even more com- of organizing a transition tional rail authority said
to Britain while Spain wants EU has been united, while plicated: “As soon as she period, probably of around witnesses described the
British tourists — and differ- Britain’s approach has negotiates something you two years, to ease Britain crossing gates as function-
ent aspirations on the fu- been more chaotic, not will need to go back to out of the EU from 2019. ing properly. Regional Pres-
ture relations, maintaining least because May’s Con- London to get an approval British businesses are urging ident Carole Delga told
unity might become diffi- servatives lost their majority from the parliament and a transition deal soon so broadcaster France-Info
cult. in a general election in the this is not making her life they can plan ahead. With- that “it appears that there
The anticipated decision summer that didn’t need easier. It just makes it more out one, many firms have was no mechanical prob-
to authorize the second to be called. Further ques- complicated for the U.K. warned that they could lem at this crossing.” The
stage of the Brexit talks tions have been raised by government.” And Austrian put in place contingency school bus was transport-
follows last week’s agree- Wednesday’s defeat for Chancellor Christian Kern plans which could involve ing children home from the
ment on matters the EU May in a vote in Parliament said “there is a lot of cake many of them relocating Christian Bourquin school
wanted settled first. These that will give lawmakers the left to be eaten” — a clear activities into the EU single in the small village of Mil-
related to Britain’s exit bill, final say on the final Brexit reference to British Foreign market.q las. It was carrying around
20 children aged between
New Polish PM debuts at European summit 11 and 15, the local au-
thority said. Psychological
help is being offered in a
By VANESSA GERA prime minister were marked of the Polish prime minister is fluent in English and Ger- local sports hall from Friday
Associated Press by bitter conflicts with the at the time, Donald Tusk, to man, studied at universities morning. An SNCF official
BRUSSELS (AP) — Poland’s EU over migrants, the envi- lead the European Council. in the United States and told The Associated Press
new prime minister was ronment and the state of Tusk leads the two-day EU Germany, and for several that the train was carrying
making his debut Thursday Poland’s democracy. summit that begins Thurs- years headed the Polish 25 people including pas-
at a European Union sum- Poland’s current isolation day where leaders are to branch of a Spanish bank, sengers and crew and all
mit, a first test of whether marks a sharp reversal for a focus on Brexit, migration Santander — experiences are accounted for and
the Western-educated for- country that has seen mas- and defense. that give him a more cos- being offered psychologi-
mer banker can bridge a sive economic develop- While Kaczynski has not mopolitan air than many in cal care. The official add-
deepening rift between his ment since joining the EU in explained his reasons for his conservative party. ed that that train normally
right-wing government and 2004 — which brought it an switching prime ministers, Speaking to reporters, travels at 80 kilometers per
Brussels. infusion of EU subsidies and party members have sug- Morawiecki appeared hour at that location. The
Mateusz Morawiecki, 49, foreign investment — and gested one aim was to im- conciliatory on Poland’s official said “several wit-
was tapped last week by which until 2015 was an in- prove the country’s inter- extensive logging in the nesses said the barrier was
the leader of the ruling Law creasingly influential voice national standing. protected Bialowieza for- down” at the time of the
and Justice party, Jaroslaw in European affairs. That As a communicator, est, a point of contention crash. She said the people
Kaczynski, to replace Bea- growing clout was reflect- Morawiecki certainly seems between Warsaw and EU on the train were “totally
ta Szydlo. Her two years as ed in the election in 2014 better fitted to the task. He officials.q shocked.”q