Jettisoning an earlier strident view that Britain could walk away from the talks, May appealed to the EU to work together to solve some of the more difficult Brexit problems, including over Ireland, where some fear the return of a “hard border” with the British province of Northern Ireland after Brexit. Prime minister Theresa May has appealed to the European Union to work together with Britain to solve the trickier problems arising from Brexit, saying a balance must be struck as neither party can have exactly what it wants. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, welcomed her call for “constructive dialogue” but said he was not convinced that there would be enough progress in time to allow talks on future trade ties to start before March 2019. However, some EU officials greeted her words with scepticism.
Prime minister Theresa May has appealed to the European Union to work together with Britain to solve the trickier problems arising from Brexit, saying a balance must be struck as neither party can have exactly what it wants. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, welcomed her call for “constructive dialogue” but said he was not convinced that there would be enough progress in time to allow talks on future trade ties to start before March 2019. However, some EU officials greeted her words with scepticism.