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A8 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 20 June 2017

And so it begins: Brexit talks to focus 1st on orderly exit

the two sides’ new relation- Time is pressing. After Brit-
ship only once sufficient ain’s June 23, 2016 referen-
progress has been made dum to leave the bloc, the
on the withdrawal issues. other 27 nations wanted to
Davis was heartened by start the exit talks as soon
the spirit of the talks, dur- as possible so they could
ing which the negotiators, work on their own futures,
both interested in moun- but Britain long seemed
taineering, exchanged a dazed by its own momen-
walking stick and a hiking tous move.
book. And even when May fi-
Barnier said there will be nally triggered the two-
one week of negotiations year unraveling process
every month and the two on March 29, she followed
sides will use the time in it up by calling an early
between to work out pro- election on June 8 that she
posals. Both sides will put hoped would strengthen
top advisers to work imme- her majority in parliament
diately on a border agree- and thus her negotiating
ment between Ireland and mandate with the EU.The
the United Kingdom, aim- move backfired, May lost
ing to make sure the Irish her Conservative majority
EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier, right, and British Secretary of State David Davis shake
hands as they arrive at EU headquarters in Brussels on Monday, June 19, 2017. Talks on Britain peace agreement and in the vote and has been
leaving the European Union began Monday with both sides saying they will focus first on an or- the common travel area fending off critics of her
derly withdrawal. should as unaffected by leadership ever since.
(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) Britain’s EU departure as Still, British Foreign Secretary
possible. Boris Johnson remained up-
By RAF CASERT amount that Britain will pay ficially leave the bloc. While the EU negotiating beat Monday, saying he
Associated Press to get out of previous EU “In the first step, we will team led by Barnier has thinks the Brexit negotia-
BRUSSELS (AP) — Talks on commitments. deal with the most pressing been ready for months, Brit- tions will yield “a happy res-
Britain leaving the Euro- Both EU negotiator Michel issues. We must lift the un- ish efforts on Brexit stalled olution that can be done
pean Union began Mon- Barnier and his British coun- certainty caused by Brexit,” even after it triggered with profit and honor for
day with both sides saying terpart David Davis said af- said Barnier. “In a second the two-year process on both sides.”
they will focus first on an ter the first negotiating ses- step, we will scope our fu- March 29. An early election Johnson also urged Euro-
orderly withdrawal: a deal sion they were confident of ture partnership.”From his this month, in which Brit- peans to look further down
for citizens living in each quick progress but said ma- comments, it appeared ish Prime Minister Theresa the road.“The most impor-
other’s territory, border ar- jor challenges lay ahead that the Brexit talks will May lost her Conservative tant thing for us is to look to
rangements between Ire- to meet the deadline of largely follow the EU’s con- majority in parliament, only the horizon, raise our eyes
land and the U.K. and the March 2019 for Britain to of- ditions and will center on added to the problems. to the horizon. q
France’s Macron to reshuffle govt after huge parliament win

By SYLVIE CORBET named to his job and is in Macron’s plans have been state of emergency. The number of female law-
Associated Press charge of forming a gov- slightly delayed by an at- After Macron vigorously makers is the highest ever
PARIS (AP) — ernment by Wednesday tempted attack Monday campaigned on a promise in France’s lower house of
French President Emman- afternoon, the French presi- afternoon on security forc- to renew France’s political parliament, reaching 38.7
uel Macron is poised to dency said in a statement. es on the Champs-Elysees landscape, other parties percent — up from 26.8
rearrange his Cabinet af- Since Macron’s new party, in Paris. also made efforts to pro- percent. Three-quarters are
ter his new centrist party Republic on the Move!, Interior Minister Gerard Col- mote new faces. starting their first term at the
engineered a landslide in won an absolute major- lomb went to the scene The victorious newcomers National Assembly.
the country’s parliamen- ity in the 577-seat National and said he will present a started arriving Monday at Some previously had local
tary election, enabling the Assembly, government bill Wednesday at a Cabi- the National Assembly to political experience, but
government to quickly start spokesman Christophe net meeting to extend learn their way around be- many are newcomers to
passing its first big laws. Castaner said on RTL radio France’s state of emergen- fore the first parliament ses- politics.
Prime Minister Edouard the government reshuffle cy from July 15, its current sion next week. Republic on the Move! and
Philippe formally resigned would be “technical and expiration date, until Nov. The National Assembly says its allies from the Modem
on Monday afternoon, a not far-reaching.” 1. new lawmakers’ average party took 350 seats — far
largely symbolic move re- He refused to say whether He will also talk about a age is down from 55 in the more than the 289 needed
quired after a legislative ministers who have come new law aiming at main- previous term to 49 now. for a majority, according to
election. under suspicion of corrup- taining “a high security lev- The youngest is 23, the old- the Interior Ministry’s defini-
He was immediately re- tion would keep their jobs. el” beyond the end of the est 79. tive results.q