Theresa May is to tell European leaders that Brexit must work for both the UK and the EU
Prime Minister Theresa May will today tell European leaders that Brexit must work for both Britain and the Europe at her first EU Council summit.
May will depart for the two day meeting in Brussels this morning, and she is set to address national leaders over a “working dinner” later in the day, with a first meeting with EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker also in the diary for Friday.
Arriving in Brussels at roughly midday, she will also hold meetings with the Prime Ministers of Estonia and Romania ahead of the council meeting formally beginning later in the afternoon.
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Following afternoon talks on migration, Downing Street sources say that May will reassure her fellow heads of government of the UK's desire to avoid damaging the EU in separation.
She will stress the goal of delivering Brexit “in the best possible way” for both sides, and the need for an outcome to be “a strong Britain as a partner of a strong EU”.
European leaders met without the UK in Bratislava last month, and this weekend will represent her debut in front of the Council as a whole.
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May's rhetoric will mark a conscious clash with warnings from some EU member states, who have called for a firm line in talks with Britain.
Earlier this month, French president Francois Hollande said in a speech at the Jacques Delor Institute in Paris: “Britain wants to leave, but doesn't want to pay. That's not possible.”
He added: “Britain decided to go for a Brexit, in fact I believe a hard Brexit. Well we have to follow through with Britain's wishes to leave the European Union and we have to be firm. If not we will put into question the EU's principles.”
Heads of government are also set to discuss Russia and Syria over dinner, with a session the following day dedicated to trade, including potential approval for an EU free trade deal with Canada.
May is expected to use the session on Friday to stress the UK's desire to avoid protectionist measures, echoing her international trade secretary Liam Fox's recent reflections on the UK as a champion of free trade in a speech at the World Trade Organisation.