| Author (Corporate) | European Council |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | 31.03.17 |
| Publication Date | 31/03/2017 |
| Content Type | News |
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The United Kingdom Government announced its intention on the 20 March 2017, in a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on 29 March 2017 - the process for the start of the negotiations for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. A letter from the UK Prime Minister Theresa May to European Council President President Donald Tusk was delivered on the 29 March 2017 formally triggering the Article 50 process. The European Council President issued an initial statement on the 29 March 2017. In addition, Mr Tusk on the 31 March 2017, while in Malta, outlined the broad outlines of the EU27 negotiating guidelines (source url hyperlink below). The draft guidelines covered four main points + the protection of the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU These issues would have to be dealt with first and clearly before any discussion on the nature of the future relationship between the EU and UK. Mr Tusk concluded: Let me conclude by saying that the talks which are about to start will be difficult, complex and sometimes even confrontational. There is no way around it. The EU27 does not and will not pursue a punitive approach. Brexit in itself is already punitive enough. After more than forty years of being united, we owe it to each other to do everything we can to make this divorce as smooth as possible'. A Special European Council would convene in EU27 format in Brussels on the 29 April 2017 to formally adopt the guidelines. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/31-tusk-remarks-meeting-muscat-malta/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, United Kingdom |
