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EuroNews (30 March 2017)

One day after the letter triggering the formal Brexit divorce was accepted and received with regrets in Brussels and the UK is getting its wish list is order for the forthcoming tough talks.

But the remaining 27 member states are insisting that the size of Britain’s exit bill, must first be agreed before substantive talks can begin.

In an interview on UK television, Prime Minister Theresa May was asked about about an exit fee which some say is around 50 billion pounds (58 billion euros)

“Well you talk about an exit fee that the EU is demanding. There’s been a lot of speculation. Actually, there isn’t a formal demand, the negotiations haven’t started yet. I’m very clear about what people here in the UK expect, but I’m also clear that we’re a law-abiding nation, we will meet obligations that we have (…)

For the Prime Minister a trade deal remains her focus:

“I believe that what we’ll be working for and what I believe we can get is a comprehensive free trade agreement. We are looking, we would like to see as friction-less free trade as possible, tariff free across borders so we can continue that trade with the European union.”

Trade, London’s future as a top global financial centre and the ensuring of the rights of EU citizens in the UK and Britons on the continent are all issues close to Mrs May’s heart.

But while the UK is hoping for a special relationship with EU, Council president Donald Tusk said “there are no winners from Brexit just damage limitation”.