By Muhammad Mussa
LONDON (AA) - The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, met with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa Thursday, to discuss the second phase of the Brexit negotiations and pressing issues such as EU citizens rights, the transition period and the Irish border.
The meeting was held on the back of rising tensions between London and Brussels after major disagreements arose this week regarding the EU’s draft withdrawal agreement on the Irish border and the transition period when the U.K. leaves the EU.
The EU published a draft withdrawal agreement on Wednesday under which Northern Ireland would effectively remain within the single market and the customs union.
May, however, has insisted that she would not sign any agreement “that threatens the constitutional integrity of the U.K.”.
The EU has also rejected the Prime Minister’s concession that EU migrants arriving in the U.K. during the transition period will be able to settle permanently, arguing that the proposal is not enough.
Tusk also warned the government that "friction is an inevitable side-effect" when the U.K. leaves the 27 member bloc, implying that whether the Tory government opts for a ‘soft Brexit’ or not, the process of leaving the EU will not be smooth.
"I'm absolutely sure that after your so-called red line, well I'm not happy with it, you know, but of course, it's natural that you have maybe different point of views when it comes to the essence of Brexit” Tusk said during a live broadcast by Sky News.
The Prime Minister also briefed the Council President on her major Brexit speech that is to be held on Friday, expressing her hope that EU leaders will engage positively and constructively.
The EU, next week, will set out its own negotiating guidelines on a post-Brexit trade agreement.
The second phase of the Brexit negotiations, focusing on trade and finance, are set to commence this month.