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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 26 sepTember 2017

EU ramps up pressure on UK at new round of Brexit talks

By LORNE COOK EU leaders are scheduled
Associated Press to meet Oct. 19-20 to as-
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Eu- sess whether Britain has
ropean Union ramped up made “sufficient progress”
pressure on Britain at a new on the terms of the divorce
round of Brexit talks Mon- arrangements for nego-
day as it ruled out broad- tiations to move on to its
ening the negotiations any future relations and trade
time soon and warned that with the bloc. Britain says
time is running out for Prime all issues are intertwined
Minister Theresa May to and should be discussed
clinch a deal. together. “The U.K. will hon-
Chief EU Brexit negotiator or commitments we have
Michel Barnier said he was made during the period
“keen and eager” to hear of our membership, but it
how his British counterparts is obvious that reaching
would translate May’s Brex- a conclusion on this issue
it speech last week into can only be done in the
concrete proposals. But he context of an in accor-
said he had no mandate to dance with a new deep
discuss the two-year transi- and special partnership
tion period that May has with the European Union,”
proposed to help ease Brit- European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, left, speaks with Estonian Deputy Prime British negotiator David Da-
ain out of the EU. Minister for EU Affairs Matti Maasikas, right, during a meeting of EU General Affairs, Article 50, vis said, as four days of talks
“What counts now is that ministers in Brussels on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. The European Union on Monday ramped up got underway.
the government of the Unit- pressure on Britain ahead of a new round of Brexit talks, warning again that time is running out for Britain is due to leave the
ed Kingdom translates the Prime Minister Theresa May to clinch a deal. EU on March 29, 2019, but
entirety of the declarations (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) any deal must be sealed
of Theresa May into pre- On the proposed transition tiate a phase-in period for nier said, suggesting that by October 2018 to leave
cise negotiating positions,” period, he said: “This point after Britain’s split becomes more delays are likely as EU time for parliaments to en-
Barnier, a former French is not in my mandate at official in March 2019. leaders would have to de- dorse it. The Europeans are
government minister, told the moment.” Barnier also “The Union must decide cide when and how Barnier pessimistic about expand-
reporters. “It’s time for clar- warned that EU rules would whether this transition pe- should handle any discus- ing the talks as little head-
ity.” apply if he is told to nego- riod is in its interests,” Bar- sion of the issue. way has been made on
the key issues of Britain’s
Official: Senate elections ‘failure’ for Macron financial settlement, the
status of the Ireland-North-
ern Ireland border and the
PARIS (AP) — The French the public but by around Macron will still be able to planned, for instance to rights of EU citizens living in
government spokesman 75,000 elected officials, pass his reforms because scrap the special justice Britain. Estonian deputy EU
said Monday that Senate mostly from local councils France’s lower house of court for government mem- affairs minister Matti Maa-
elections have been a across the country. They parliament has the final say bers and limiting lawmakers sikas, whose country holds
“failure” for President Em- are elected for six-year in legislation. to three terms. The Social- the bloc’s rotating presi-
manuel Macron’s centrist terms. Government spokes- Macron’s party is expected ists, who suffered a major dency, also warned that
party. The conservative Re- man Christophe Castaner to seek an alliance at the defeat in the presidential time is running out. “There
publicans were the clear told BFM TV that the defeat Senate with other centrists, election in May, have suc- has been some progress in
winners in Sunday’s vote for wasn’t a surprise because some center-leaning So- ceeded in remaining the the negotiations, but clear
about half the chamber’s “those who voted are those cialists and some members second biggest force in the divergences remain in all
348 seats. The Republicans who have been elected in of The Republicans party, in Senate with 81 seats. the key issues,” Maasikas
now have 159 seats and 2014 and 2015 when Re- the hope of passing some Marine Le Pen’s far-right said after chairing talks
their center-right allies have public on the Move! didn’t sensitive bills more swiftly. National Front, struggling between European affairs
50 seats, while Macron’s exist.” Castaner was asked But without the support of with internal strife, failed to and foreign ministers that
17-month-old Republic on if the election result was a a majority of senators, he win a single Senate seat. Barnier attended Mon-
the Move! party has just 28 disappointment, and he re- might not be able to make The National Front current- day. “There is a lot of work
seats in the Senate. plied: “Yes, it’s a failure, but changes to the French ly has two senators, both to do, and time is of the
Senators aren’t chosen by it was expected.” Constitution as previously elected in 2014. q essence.”q