European Council
The President
Brussels, 28 April 2017
Dear colleagues,
Following the United Kingdom's notification of withdrawal from the European Union, we will meet
on Saturday for the first time as the formal European Council of 27 to adopt guidelines for the
upcoming Brexit negotiations.
Let me highlight one element of our proposed guidelines, which I believe is key for the success of
these negotiations, and therefore needs to be precisely understood and fully accepted. I am
referring to the idea of a phased approach, which means that we will not discuss our future
relations with the UK until we have achieved sufficient progress on the main issues relating to the
UK's withdrawal from the EU. This is not only a matter of tactics, but
–
given the limited time frame
we have to conclude the talks
–
it is the only possible approach.
In other words, before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past. We need to secure the
best guarantees for our citizens and their families. Guarantees that are effective, enforceable, non-
discriminatory and comprehensive, and which should be accompanied by simple and smooth
administrative procedures. We should also agree with the UK that all financial obligations
undertaken by the EU of 28 will be honoured also by the UK. Finally, in order to protect the peace
and reconciliation process described by the Good Friday Agreement, we should aim to avoid a
hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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