 "Brexit: European Union says negotiation plans unchanged by British election call")
The European Union said on Tuesday that it did not expect negotiating guidelines for Britain’s exit from the bloc to be affected by the British government’s call for an early general election.
British Prime Minister Theresa May called on Tuesday for snap polls in a surprise announcement as Britain prepares for delicate Brexit negotiations.
“The UK elections do not change our EU27 plans,” said Preben Aamann, spokesman for Donald Tusk, president of the European Council of the remaining 27 member states.
“We expect to have the Brexit guidelines adopted by the European Council on 29 April and, following that, the Brexit negotiating directives ready on 22 May,” Aamann said.
“This will allow the EU27 to start negotiations,” he added.
Tusk issued a set of draft guidelines late last month rejecting May’s call for talks on the terms of the divorce bill and on a future trade deal in parallel during the two years of negotiations ahead of Britain’s exit in March 2019.
The remaining 27 EU countries are set to rubber-stamp Tusk’s guidelines at a summit on April 29, paving the way for chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to begin formal negotiations with Britain at the end of May.
 "Vantage | Why West's talk about frozen Russian assets shows its hypocrisy")
 "Google faces 2.1bn Euros lawsuit by media groups for ‘gross misconduct, abuse of dominant position’")
 "EU records over 1.1 million asylum applications in 2023, Syrians and Afghans file most claims")
 "British maritime security firm reports incident west of Yemen’s Red Sea port Hodeidah")
 "Vantage | Why West's talk about frozen Russian assets shows its hypocrisy")
 "Google faces 2.1bn Euros lawsuit by media groups for ‘gross misconduct, abuse of dominant position’")
 "EU records over 1.1 million asylum applications in 2023, Syrians and Afghans file most claims")
 "British maritime security firm reports incident west of Yemen’s Red Sea port Hodeidah")