The European Union's remaining 27 members laid the ground rules Thursday for upcoming divorce talks with Britain, a process that has yet to start following June's so-called Brexit referendum, according to dpa. The EU 27 held short informal talks in Brussels after a regular summit with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who has set an end-of-March deadline to activate article 50 of the EU treaty on withdrawal proceedings. "We welcome [Britain's] intention [...] so that we can begin to tackle the uncertainties arising from the prospect of [Britain's] withdrawal," the leaders said in a three-page statement, listing procedural steps. It reiterated that there would be no movement until Britain formally asks to leave, and once that happens the EU 27 will hold another summit to instruct the European Commission on how to negotiate with London. The country holding the EU's rotating presidency and a representative of European Council President Donald Tusk will sit in negotiations alongside the commission's pointman on Brexit, Frenchman Michel Barnier. EU member states - Britain excluded - will also regularly meet at diplomats' level to check on Barnier, while the European Parliament, which wanted a seat on the negotiating table, was offered a role in preparatory meetings and regular briefings from Barnier. "It is only reasonable to involve the European Parliament from day one," assembly president Martin Schulz warned leaders, recalling that the assembly holds veto powers on any divorce settlement between Britain and the other EU members. Meanwhile, May said it was right for EU counterparts to get ready for Brexit. "We want that to be as smooth and orderly [...] as possible. It's not just in our interest, it's in the interest of the rest of Europe as well," she said.
