Europe ready for Brexit talks says negotiator

By Serife Cetin

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Council on Monday tasked the European Commission with running upcoming Brexit negotiations between the U.K. and the EU.

“The European Commission welcomes the Council's decision today to authorize the opening of the Article 50 negotiations with the U.K. and to nominate the Commission as Union negotiator,” the commission said.

“We are ready to sit down at the negotiating table with the U.K.,” said the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.

Britain’s electorate voted to end the country’s 44-year membership of the EU in a referendum held in June 2016.

Since then, with the backing of Britain’s parliament, the U.K. triggered Article 50 of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty -- a clause which allows a member state to leave unilaterally.

Brexit negotiations will start after a general election in Britain on June 8.

However, talks are expected to prove difficult, with divisions between the U.K. and European leaders already apparent.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Theresa May said “threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials”.

She was speaking after reports emerged of a strained meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

“Britain’s negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press," May said at the time, claiming the European Commission’s negotiating stance had hardened.

May’s remarks came after an account of her dinner with Juncker was leaked by a German newspaper.

It also followed remarks by Barnier who earlier ruled out a “quick divorce” between the U.K. and the EU.

Outstanding Brexit issues include the U.K.’s future access to the single market, the free movement of British and EU citizens plus the future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.