MEPs set to say Brexit progress not sufficient

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September 27, 2017 7:34 PM

The European Parliament is expected to say next week that progress in Brexit negotiations is not sufficient to unlock talks on an eventual trade deal, a leading member said Wednesday.

MEPs -- who will have the final say on any deal for Britain's departure from the EU in 2019 -- will vote on a resolution setting out red lines for Britain to meet, Greens president Philippe Lamberts said.

"In the current state of negotiations, we haven't achieved it," Lamberts said. "It would be nice to be surprised."

The parliamentary vote in Strasbourg comes ahead of an EU summit in late October when leaders will decide whether the talks have achieved enough on divorce issues to move on to the next phase of discussing a future relationship.

A fourth round of Brexit talks is under way in Brussels, amid hopes that proposals in a speech by British Prime Minister Theresa May in Florence last Friday may break a deadlock on key issues.

The main political groups in the European Parliament are finalising the resolution this week.

The EU says that to progress to trade, Britain must first agree on an exit bill, guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in Britain, and ensure there is no damage to the Northern Ireland peace process.

European Council President Donald Tusk, who represents the EU member states, said after meeting May in London on Tuesday that there was "no sufficient progress" so far.

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