May and Juncker have dinner, talk Brexit

May and Juncker have dinner, talk Brexit

Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker before their now-infamous dinner | Carl Court/Getty Images | Carl Court/Getty Images

May and Juncker have dinner, talk Brexit

The meeting comes just before EU leaders adopt the Union’s guidelines on Brexit talks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May hosted Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, at Downing Street on Wednesday to discuss Brexit negotiations between the U.K. and the EU.

Afterwards, a spokesperson for the prime minister described the meeting as “constructive” and said that May had “reiterated the U.K.’s commitment to achieving a deep and special partnership with the European Union.”

The spokesperson also said that May and Juncker had “discussed a range of other international issues in a useful working dinner.”

Before the dinner meeting, a spokesman for May said the prime minister would reiterate her wish to get early assurances on the rights of EU citizens living in the U.K. and reciprocal assurances.

Juncker was accompanied by the Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand, chief of staff Martin Selmayr and diplomatic adviser Richard Szostak.

Also present were Brexit Secretary David Davis, Downing Street chief of staff Nick Timothy and chief U.K. Brexit department official Olly Robbins.

The meeting took place just three days before a summit on April 29 where EU leaders — minus May — will adopt the bloc’s guidelines for the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

Authors:
Cynthia Kroet