BRUSSELS, July 20 -- The European Union (EU) and Britain failed to bridge their differences on key Brexit issues, including financial settlements, jurisdiction of overseas citizens and the Northern Irish border, as the second round of negotiations concluded here on Thursday.
During talks, the 27 EU members put on a united front against a more seemingly divided British cabinet, led by Prime Minister Theresa May, who is currently under fire in her Conservative party and among the wider British public.
In a press conference, British Brexit Secretary David Davis and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier chose their words carefully in gauging their divergences.
When it came to financial settlements, Barnier underlined EU's stand with a tough tone. "We want -- and we are working towards -- an orderly exit of the United Kingdom. And an orderly exit requires the payment of the accounts," said Barnier.
Davis, for his part, sidestepped a direct response to Barnier, and instead emphasized the obligations of both sides.
Hailing the talks as "robust" and "constructive," Davis said the two sides recognized the importance of sorting out the obligations that Britain and EU have to one another.
"Ultimately getting to a solution will require flexibility from both sides," he said.
Addressing the issue of EU citizens' rights in Britain, Barnier said: "We are now moving in a common direction. But there remains a fundamental divergence on how to guarantee these rights, and on several other points, such as the rights of future members of the family or the export of certain social benefits."
"Citizens must be able to find in the withdrawal agreement itself the legal certainty they need in their daily lives. And of course, any reference to European rights implies its control by the Court of Justice of the European Union," he added.
Davis said he was pleased by the progress made thus far, and acknowledged divergences were to be expected.
"We have looked at each other's proposals in depth and identified many concrete areas where we agree as well as areas where there will be further discussion, which will be a priority for the next round as Michel has said," he said.
"We agreed on the need for certainty on the part of citizens both the EU and the UK. We obviously have different views on how we achieve that," said Davis.
A silver lining in the four-day talks was the two sides' "constructive" talks over the Ireland border issue.
Davis said his hope to achieve "a flexible and imaginative solution to address the unique circumstances around the border" was echoed by the EU.
However, that's where the silver lining stops. The EU said it needs to better understand how Britain intends on ensuring the continuation of cooperation between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit which currently is embedded in the common framework of EU law and policies.
It also wants Britain to clarify in the next session how it intends on maintaining the common travel area after leaving the EU.
体坛英语资讯:Paraguays Dominguez re-elected as CONMEBOL president
美文赏析:难道真要工作一辈子吗?
即使是少量运动,也能带来幸福感
浙江省东阳中学2017-2018学年高二下学期期中考试英语试卷
国内英语资讯: Audio evidence of Japans germ war atrocities archived in China museum
“宠物高科技”脑洞大开 来看看这些奇葩的专利申请
如何才能改变现状
2018年06月英语六级作文范文:如何交朋友
体坛英语资讯:Barca win again while Madrid suffer another defeat in Liga Santander
为什么你存不下钱
什么样的男人桃花运旺?
体坛英语资讯: Neymar reveals World Cup injury fear
汶川地震10周年:她们重获新生
漫威编剧为虐哭观众道歉:主角不死?《复联3》咱们走着瞧
梅根入英国国籍前,必须要会的12道题,你都会吗?
2018年06月英语六级作文范文:你喜欢健康还是财富
怎样才能冷静面对困难?
体坛英语资讯: Ding Junhui inducted into world snooker Hall of Fame in London
研究显示 生吃果蔬有利于心理健康
2018年6月英语六级作文范文:如何培养阅读习惯
觉得骑车或步行上班太花时间?你可能想错了
盘点:世界上最聪明的动物们
为了解决单身问题,脸书约会功能即将上线!
漫威推出首批中国超级英雄,了解一下?
浙江省东阳中学2017-2018学年高一下学期期中考试英语试卷
2018年06月英语六级作文范文: 科学与世界难题
国内英语资讯: Chinas top legislator meets AU Commission deputy chair, eyeing closer China-Africa coopera
人真的会因为心碎而死吗?
国内英语资讯:China calls for more efforts to lift all disabled out of poverty
体坛英语资讯:Olympic champ Rudisha to skip Shanghai Diamond League meeting
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |