European Council

Brexit: EU says it doesn't want to 'punish' Britain for leaving

"Brexit is punitive enough," said Donald Tusk, President of the European Council.

The EU nevertheless set out a tough set of principles for Brexit negotiations. They offer the possibility that trade talks could begin before the UK leaves -- but only after "sufficient progress" is made on the complex task of untangling Britain from the EU.

In her letter triggering the UK's formal exit from the EU, British Prime Minister Theresa May had asked for a parallel approach from the start.

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He also spoke of the hope of a "breakthrough" in the Paris Summit as the world tries to fight the causes and consequences of climate change.