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David Davis has called on the European Commission to be more “flexible” during Brexit negotiations.
The Brexit Secretary is heading to Brussels for the third round of formal talks over the UK’s departure from the EU.
He will push for EU negotiator Michel Barnier to be less rigid in his refusal to discuss the post-Brexit relationship between the UK and Europe.
Mr Barnier has insisted that progress must be made on key aspects of the withdrawal deal, including the UK’s “divorce bill”, ex-pat citizens’ rights and the Irish border, before there is any talk of future arrangements for crucial issues such as trade.
Leaders of the 27 remaining EU states will decide in October whether the divorce talks have got far enough to move on to the second phase.
Brexit: Article 50 Triggered – In pictures
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Britain’s ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May’s formal notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels
AFP/Getty Images
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Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Common
PA
3/20
Britain’s ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow delivers British Prime Minister Theresa May’s formal notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels
AFP/Getty Images
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European Council President Donald Tusk holds a news conference after receiving British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit letter in notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium
Yves Herman/Reuters
8/20
Prime Minister Theresa May takes her seat after announcing in the House of Commons
PA
9/20
The time 12:20pm shows on Big Ben on March 29, 2017 in London, England. The British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the Houses of Parliament as Article 50 is triggered and the process that will take the United Kingdom out of the European Union begins
Carl Court/Getty Images
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D-day: pro-EU protesters outside of the Houses of Parliament today as Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50
AFP/Getty Images
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EU Council President Donald Tusk holds British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit letter which was delivered by Britain’s permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow (not pictured) that gives notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty in Brussels, Belgium
Yves Herman/Reuters
12/20
PMQ’s in The House of Commons
PA
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Jeremy Corbyn speaking at PMQ’s in The House of Commons
Sky News
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Theresa May leaving for the House of Commons
Jeremy Selwyn
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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at the headquarters of Vivendi in Paris where he took part in TV interviews to discuss the imminent triggering of Article 50 by the UK to leave the EU
Stefan Rousseau/PA
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Britain’s permanent representative to the European Union Tim Barrow arrives at the EU Council headquarters for as meeting before hand delivering British Prime Minister Theresa May’s notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty to EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels, Belgium
Yves Herman/Reuters
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Britain’s ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow arrives at the British representation of the European Union in Brussels
Aurore Belot/AFP/Getty Images
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A giant headed Theresa May in Parliament Square, London during a protest by Avaaz after PM signed a letter to trigger Article 50 that starts the formal exit process by the UK from the European Union
David Mirzoeff/PA
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British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson walks down Whitehall
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
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Britain’s PM Theresa May signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, invoking Article 50.
AFP/Getty Images
But Mr Davis is expected to urge Brussels to show more “imagination” to drive talks forward.
His Department for Exiting the EU has in the last week published a slew of papers setting out Britain’s vision for a “deep and special” future partnership, dealing with issues ranging from the role of the European Court of Justice to customs arrangements and data protection.
While a UK Government source indicated that Mr Davis will warn Brussels not to “drag its feet” in discussions which must be completed in time for the deadline of March 2019.
“This round of negotiations will focus on thrashing out the technical detail on important matters related to us leaving the EU, and will act as a stepping stone to more substantial talks in September,” said the source.
“The UK has been working diligently to inform the negotiations in the past weeks, and has published papers making clear our position on a wide range of issues from how we protect the safe flow of personal data, to the circumstances around Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“Now, both sides must be flexible and willing to compromise when it comes to solving areas where we disagree.
“As the EU itself has said, the clock is ticking so neither side should drag its feet.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
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