European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt hints EU citizens’ rights deal is close after PM’s ‘Brexit compromising speech’ and trade talks could start in ‘next few days’
A BREXIT breakthrough on citizens rights’ could come in days after Theresa May’s “realistic” speech, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator declared earlier today.
Praising the PM’s Brexit vision from last Friday, Guy Verhofstadt said an agreement on the rights of EU citizens in Brexit Britain and Brits in Europe during the post-Brexit transition phase was finally close.
He said: “I think it is possible that in the coming days and coming weeks we can make progress on this, we can conclude on this.”
After Downing Street talks with the PM and Cabinet Ministers today, the influential MEP urged Britain to stick to rules and regulations drawn up in Brussels after Brexit.
He insisted we would be better off staying in the customs union and single market.
But the upbeat tone sparked hopes a Brexit deal is inching closer.
It came a week after the Government caved in – and said EU citizens arriving during a transition phase WILL get full residency rights.
Theresa May on Friday followed up by telling Brexit backers and ardent Europhiles they would both have to “compromise” on Brexit.
Separately today Brexit Secretary David Davis warned rebel MPs that a “meaningful” Commons vote on the future deal with Brussels will not be able to block Brexit.
He reiterated that a show of hands in the run up to March 2019 would never be able to “overrule” the Referendum result.
Speaking to a cross-party Commons Committee, he said: “I don’t view a meaningful vote as overruling the referendum. We will leave in all circumstances.”
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He insisted Theresa May would never “bargain away” Britain’s fishing rights in return for a better trade agreement.
And he panned claims that Brexit could trigger the return of IRA and Loyalist paramilitaries in Ireland.
A week after Sir John Major warned talk of a Hard Border was creating “new divisions” in Ireland, Mr Davis said: “No matter what happens nothing will provide any sort if excuse for men of violence to return – we will not see it again and not create any excuses for them.”