Theresa May Seeks to Unlock Brexit Talks in Florence Speech<br />This alone is unlikely to be enough to satisfy the 27 other member nations, but Mrs. May hinted<br />that she would be willing to go further and “honor commitments we have made during the period of our membership.”<br />In addition, Mrs. May proposed a security partnership with the European Union, stressing Britain’s importance as a defense power,<br />and also offered new legal safeguards to guarantee the rights of European Union citizens in Britain after Brexit.<br />LONDON — Seeking to end a stalemate in negotiations over her country’s withdrawal from the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May<br />of Britain offered Friday substantial payments to the bloc during a two-year transition period immediately after the country’s exit.<br />European Union negotiators have refused to talk about post-Brexit ties until they judge<br />that there is “sufficient progress” on the issues they consider a priority: the status of European Union citizens in Britain after it leaves, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is a part of the United Kingdom) and Britain’s financial commitments to the bloc.<br />It would also effectively maintain the status quo for the duration of a two-year transition period, meaning<br />that Britain would allow the free movement of European workers and accept rulings from the European Court of Justice.<br />Our ambition is to find a rapid agreement on the conditions of the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal, as well as on a possible transition period.”<br />Although Britain is scheduled to exit the European Union in 2019, there has been little<br />progress in talks since March, when London formally announced its intention to leave.
