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Saturday 18 November 2017 WORLD NEWS
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EU leaders warn broadening of Brexit talks could be in doubt

By LORNE COOK that there is no hard border
Associated Press created between Ireland
GOTEBORG, Sweden (AP) and Northern Ireland. “I
— European Union lead- made it very clear to Prime
ers warned Britain on Fri- Minister May that this prog-
day that it must do much ress needs to happen at the
more to convince them beginning of December at
that Brexit talks should be the latest. If there is no suf-
broadened to cover future ficient progress by then, I
relations and trade from will not be in a position to
next month onward. propose new guidelines on
With British Prime Minister transition and the future re-
Theresa May mired in po- lationship” at the EU summit
litical disputes at home, in Brussels on Dec. 14-15,
Friday’s EU summit in Swe- said EU Council President
den again showed that the Donald Tusk. Britain is due
negotiations on Britain’s to leave the EU on March
divorce from the bloc are 29, 2019, but it must com-
moving as slow as ever de- plete the complex and
spite commitments from unprecedented departure
both sides to speed them process by next October
up. European Council President Donald Tusk, center, speaks with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, so that parliaments can
And even though May left, and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, right, as they walk on a pier at an EU summit ratify any agreement. May
sought to lobby leaders in- in Goteborg, Sweden on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. European Union leaders warned Britain Friday that desperately wants to dis-
dividually Friday there were it must do much more to convince them that Brexit talks should be broadened to future relations cuss future relations and
scant signs of a more flex- and trade from December. trade, and EU leaders have
ible EU stance. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) suggested they could be
May and French President edge. now. “For France, we will phase are agreed upon,” ready to expand the talks
Emmanuel Macron held a Still, it had little impact on not change the agreed he said. May’s government next month if “sufficient
private, windswept tete-a- the influential French lead- process, and we won’t was urged to clarify how progress” is made on the
tete away from the other er, who insisted that noth- open up the negotiations much Britain will pay to divorce bill, the status of
leaders as they strolled to ing would change in the on life after (Brexit) until the settle its financial accounts Irish borders and the rights
lunch along the water’s approach of the talks for conditions set out in the first with the bloc and to ensure of citizens hit by Brexit.q

Catalan rebels to campaign from Belgium amid extradition

By RAF CASERT worst institutional crisis in the prosecutor asked to
Associated Press nearly four decades. agree to the Spain’s extra-
BRUSSELS (AP) — A court in The prime ministers of Spain dition request for the five,
Belgium on Friday pushed and Belgium spoke Friday the defense lawyers could
back the extradition argu- before the court session, still give written arguments
ments of ex-Catalan lead- discussing ties that have until early next month.
er Carles Puigdemont and been strained due to the “So nothing has been de-
four allies until at least Dec. Catalan officials who are cided today,” he said.
4, likely keeping the seces- wanted on a Spanish arrest The prosecutor said, ac-
sionist rebels in Belgium warrant. cording to Belgian law,
right through Catalonia’s Puigdemont lawyer Paul there was no corruption on
regional election cam- Bekaert said after the first the part of the Catalan five
paign. court session Friday that but a “conspiracy of civil
The court hearing in Brussels “we will argue the case on servants.
for the five Catalans is the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy arrives for an EU summit Dec. 4.” Whatever decision ” And he added that for a
latest step in their flight from in Goteborg, Sweden on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Fair jobs and is made at that stage, two refusal to fully commit to
Spain to Brussels and their growth are on the agenda for a meeting on Friday. appeals will be possible their jobs “there can be no
refusal to return to face re- (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) and a final ruling could well extradition.”
bellion and sedition charg- Puigdemont plans to lead by Spain’s government in only come only after the He did not address Spain’s
es that could land them in his party’s campaign for an attempt to find a dem- Dec. 21 vote. rebellion and sedition
jail for 25 years or more. the Dec. 21 election called ocratic fix to the nation’s Bekaert said even though charges.q