The British government is examining the U.K.’s financial commitments to the EU “line by line,” Prime Minister Theresa May told journalists before leaving the European Council summit in Brussels.
EU leaders at the event said repeatedly that they require more clarity from the U.K. on divorce issues — especially Britain’s financial settlement — before allowing Brexit talks to move on to trade.
And in remarks which hint that May has not closed the door on making more financial concessions, she said: “There has to be detailed work on those commitments … We’ll continue to go through them line by line.”
She reiterated the promise she made in her speech last month in Florence. “Nobody needs to be concerned with the current budget plan, that they will have to either pay more or receive less as a result of the U.K. leaving,” she said, adding,”We will honor other commitments that we have made during our membership.”
The prime minister also emphasized that the U.K. will remain fully engaged in EU policy-making for “another year and a half,” pointing out that London is “unconditionally committed to the security and defense of Europe.” She also reiterated the U.K.’s “firm commitment” to the Iran deal.
May said that “whatever happens, we want EU citizens and their families to stay [after Brexit].”
Politico
