MNI: UK's May Acknowledges "Some Way To Go" On Brexit Talks

--UK PM May Refuses To Put Number On Financial Settlement

By Kieran Williams and Tara Oakes

     BRUSSELS (MNI) - UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "ambitious and

positive" on the potential to reach a deal on leaving the EU, as the bloc's

Council approved internal preparations for second-phase talks.

     But the green light for member states to internally assess their approach

to future relationship negotiations is an acknowledgement that negotiations are

not there yet.

     "I am ambitious and positive for Britain's future and for these

negotiations, but I know we still have some way to go," May told journalists in

Brussels.

     Speaking after a session at the European Council in Brussels, May said that

a range of subjects were discussed with EU leaders, and that she had shared with

European leaders her vision "for a new deep and special partnership between the

UK and EU after Brexit" adding that her vision encompassed "free trade, rigorous

and fair competition, strong consumer rights and strong regulations."

     On a Brexit 'no deal' scenario May again insisted that all eventualities

were being prepared for, but she was confident a positive deal could be

achieved.

     Questioned about financial contributions amid speculation this morning that

May had offered to pay more than she had already indicated in her Florence

speech, May didn't budge on previous comments and referred back to the Florence

speech. The UK will honour commitments made during membership said May, adding

that "there has to be detailed work on those commitments...we are going through

them line by line."

     May was questioned several times about a definitive figure, but insisted

that it will "come as part of a final agreement."

     There was a brief mention of some of the sticking points in early

negotiations such as EU citizens' rights, where she said "I am confident that we

in touching distance of a deal." On the Irish border May reiterated previous

comments that both sides had committed to a "flexible and imaginative approach

on this issue."

     While other EU leaders have acknowledged that progress is slow on the first

phase of talks, the dialogue was happening in a constructive atmosphere. Notably

a press conference by German Chancellor Angela Merkel last night,which took a

more conciliatory tone, and observers have noted that EU leaders seem to have

bought May into the fold more after she was seen to be ostracised at previous

talks.

     Observers have speculated that Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron

walking to the summit chamber with May yesterday was intended as a show of

support.

     The summit conclusions have also opened the way for the EU27 countries to

begin trade talk preparations as was circulated in a draft communique last week

which is softening in the hard-line stance adopted previously.

     However while EU big hitters may be adopting a more appeasing tone, not

everyone is convinced. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said earlier in the

day about May "her best performance yet but hasn't changed anything."

     The other two areas requiring sufficient progress are Ireland and citizens'

rights - with May saying on the latter that they were in "touching distance of a

deal".

     May and her negotiators are now pinning their hopes on December's EUCO to

move on to parallel talks.

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203 865 3809; email: kieran.williams@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

--MNI Brussels Bureau; +44 203-865-3851; email: tara.oakes@marketnews.com

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