EU ministers on Monday unanimously gave Michel Barnier the green light to start Brexit talks, with the Frenchman hoping to sit at the table from June 19 after Britain’s general election.
Mr Barnier said the backing of the remaining 27 countries was a further show of “determination and confidence” in what promise to be two years of bruising negotiations with London.
The former European commissioner and French foreign minister also warned his British counterpart David Davis against further threats to walk away from the talks if Brussels pushes a reported $112-billion divorce bill.
Meanwhile, in UK Prime Minister Theresa May amended an unpopular campaign proposal for elderly care just days after unveiling it, prompting accusations that she could not be relied upon in upcoming Brexit negotiations. Ms May came under fire after she announced a cap on the amount people would be asked to pay, which was in response to a backlash against proposals in her party’s manifesto on paying for elderly care. Ms May denied the cap amounted to a U-turn.
