Theresa May Seeks to Unlock Brexit Talks in Florence Speech
This alone is unlikely to be enough to satisfy the 27 other member nations, but Mrs. May hinted
that she would be willing to go further and “honor commitments we have made during the period of our membership.”
In addition, Mrs. May proposed a security partnership with the European Union, stressing Britain’s importance as a defense power,
and also offered new legal safeguards to guarantee the rights of European Union citizens in Britain after Brexit.
LONDON — Seeking to end a stalemate in negotiations over her country’s withdrawal from the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May
of Britain offered Friday substantial payments to the bloc during a two-year transition period immediately after the country’s exit.
European Union negotiators have refused to talk about post-Brexit ties until they judge
that there is “sufficient progress” on the issues they consider a priority: the status of European Union citizens in Britain after it leaves, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is a part of the United Kingdom) and Britain’s financial commitments to the bloc.
It would also effectively maintain the status quo for the duration of a two-year transition period, meaning
that Britain would allow the free movement of European workers and accept rulings from the European Court of Justice.
Our ambition is to find a rapid agreement on the conditions of the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal, as well as on a possible transition period.”
Although Britain is scheduled to exit the European Union in 2019, there has been little
progress in talks since March, when London formally announced its intention to leave.
