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The European Union demands that Britain make "sufficient progress" on its withdrawal from the EU before talks on a trade deal can start as it lays out its tough Brexit negotiating plans. Video provided by AFP Newslook

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council speaks during the joint press conference with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (not in picture) at the Auberge de Castille in Valletta, Malta, March 31, 2017.(Photo: DOMENIC AQUILINA, EPA)

LONDON The European Union laid out itsnext steps for negotiatingBrexit on Friday,suggesting that talks on a new free trade agreement could begin even before the United Kingdomleaves the bloc.

European Council PresidentDonald Tusk said he will propose the draft negotiating guidelines to the leaders of the 27countries that will remain in the EU when Britain leaves. Theleaders, who will meet at a summit on April 29, must approve the proposals.The EU and Britain have two years to negotiatethe terms of Brexit.

The draft guidelines suggest discussions on a new trade agreement after Britain exits the single market which allows EU members to trade with each other without restrictions could begin within two years.

"The British government has indicated that it will not seek to remain in the single market, but would like to pursue an ambitious free trade agreement with the European Union. Based on the Union's interests, the European Council stands ready to initiate work towards such an agreement, to be finalised and concluded once the United Kingdom is no longer a Member State,"the draft document says.

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The United Kingdom formally began its exit from the bloc on Wednesday. Tusk had 48 hours to respond to the notification of withdrawal.

Our duty is to minimise the uncertainty and disruption caused by the UK decision to withdraw from the EU for our citizens, businesses and Member States, Tusk said in a statement Friday. As I have already said, in essence it is about damage control.

Brexit by the numbers as the process begins. Video provided by TheStreet Newslook

The proposal saysthat the status of EU citizens living in the U.K. must be settled;a legal vacuum for companies once EU laws no longer apply to the U.K. must be prevented;the bloc must ensure that the U.K. honors its financial commitments and liabilities; and a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland must be avoided.

After more than 40 years of being united, we owe it to each other to make this divorce as smooth as possible, Tusk tweeted.

A majority of Britons voted to leave the EU at a referendum in June. TheU.K. joined the alliancein 1973.

These are draft guidelines and we look forward to beginning negotiations once they have been formally agreed by the 27 member states," aU.K. government spokesman said Friday.

It is clear both sides wish to approach these talks constructively, and as the Prime Minister said this week, wish to ensure a deep and special partnership between the UK and the European Union.

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European Union lays out draft Brexit guidelines

Peter Lundgren a right-wing politician of the Sweden Democrats party who hailedArticle 50a breath of fresh air says hishomeland is next in line for its very own Swexit.

Speaking toThe Express,Mr Lundgren said: The British people have shown the rest of Europe its possible to leave.

At last we have a breath of fresh air.

Thats why I believe that we will be the biggest party in the next years election in Sweden and we will also push the demand for having a renegotiation of the trade agreements with the European Union, for the membership.

And we will also put it up to a referendum where people will have their say and then Im hopeful that we also can follow Britains example.

A YouGov poll has shown that 39% of Swedes wish to leave the EU, and an election is to be held in September.

As of 12.30pm on March 29, the UK wasset on a course to leavethe EU by March 29, 2019.

The PM sentan official letter invoking Article 50to be delivered to Donald Tusk.

Click here to read more from The Sun.

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Swexit? Swedish politician says his country will be next to ditch ... - Fox News

"Theresa May has - rightly - accepted the principle that both sides should settle their outstanding commitments. But while we should agree a methodology for doing this early on, there's no way any British PM could agree to signing a blank cheque at the start of negotiations".

Theresa May has said that Britain will meet its "obligations" to the European Union, although the Government strongly disputes claims it owes 50billion. Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary

Iain Duncan Smith, a Tory MP and former Conservative leader, said: "We have put into the place half a trillion pounds over the past 40 years which has never come back. That's invested in all sorts of stuff there.

"We have intellectual property rights, physical investment in buildings, money in the European investment bank. We own a chunk of the EU, we don't owe them any money.

"They are petrified that in two years time we will pull out and they will lose the second highest donor to the Budget.We should sweep that to one side and say honestly, these back of the envelope calculations do nobody any good.

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Britain will get money back from the EU instead of paying to leave under plans being considered by ministers - Telegraph.co.uk

The nine resident EU Ambassadors in Sudan welcomed the announcement by the Government of Sudan to open one additional overland humanitarian corridor to famine-stricken South Sudan. The first UN convoy from the city of El Obeid in Sudan to Bentiu in South Sudan on March 30 is delivering lifesaving aid in a timely and cost-effective way. This adds significantly to the humanitarian corridor between Kosti and Renk, which the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan opened in 2014.

It is crucial to maintain the two corridors and consider expanding access to South Sudan with additional corridors, especially in view of the upcoming rainy season. The European diplomats also called for sustained and timely access for humanitarian organisations in Sudan seeking to provide assistance to the rising numbers of refugees fleeing from South Sudan.

The EU is providing massive support for the response to the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, and to South Sudanese refugees in the neighbouring countries. In 2017, the European Commission announced 182 million EUR to support humanitarian actions to the South Sudanese in South Sudan and in countries of the region which are facing large influx of refugees, including the Sudan. Further support is provided through EU Member State bilateral assistance programmes.

Khartoum 30 April 2017

For more information or press inquiries, please contact:

Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of the Sudan

Address: Block 1B, Plot 10, Gamhoria Street, Khartoum, P.O. Box 2363

Tel: 249.(0) 183 79 93 93 - Fax: 799 399 Mobile: 990095577

E-mail: delegation-soudan-info@eeas.europa.eu

Website: eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sudan/

Facebook: /www.facebook.com/European-Union-in-Sudan

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Statement by the European Union Delegation in Khartoum on behalf of the resident EU Member States - ReliefWeb

On Wednesday HM Government served a notice that puts this country in a position similar to that of a tenant who has given a notice to quit without having another home to go to, or an employee who quits without having another job to go to. It hands virtually all the cards to the other party.

Ironically perhaps, the only people on the Leave side who seem prepared to deal with the implications of this are those who are so viscerally affronted by everything they think the EU stands for that they are happy to contemplate a situation in which from 30 March 2019 all trade conducted by this country with members of the EU will be undertaken under WTO rules.

In the long run, probably after several decades, the position will change, because it is the younger generations who voted heavily to remain who will gradually assume power. No one should ever forget that what is happening is driven largely by those over 35, and especially over 65. At some point that pigeon will come home to roost.

Philip Morgan Llanelli

I have been away for a while but I readily spotted your many April Fool references to a President Trump. You really will have to be more subtle in future to fool The Indyssharp-eyed readership.

Brian Mitchell Cambridge

Thats it, Article 50 has been triggered and the European Union given official notice of the UKs intention to leave by the 29March 2019.

Or is it, when such an intention can be withdrawn at any time during the coming two years of negotiations, during which unbiased light will be shed on all the discussions we should have had, but didnt, before the referendum took place?

And if folk find that they have been kept in the dark over the properissue theyll have every right to feel awfully aggrieved over having been sold something way too dodgy by far.

Article 50 is not so much triggered as heaven help us Rodneyed or Del Boyed!

John Haran Essex

What an institution the EU is.

At last the people are seeing what we are affiliated to, bullying dictators hell bent on punishing the UK for their democratic rights to leave.

We entered into the common market to trade freely and fairly but slowly and stealthilywe have been drawn into their clutches. We liberated Europe in two world wars do they forget our sacrifices and the price we paid for their freedom?Now they are demanding we pay them billions for the pleasure of being a member of their gang.

We once had a proud nation:we fought wars throughout the world in the name of justice and freedom;we endured two world wars without asking Europe for a penny; and we survived. We don'need Europe now, or Scotland for that matter.

Theresa May now needs all the support she can muster from all parties within Parliament, excluding the rebellious SNP of course, who are hell bent on destroying the British.

I have nothing but admiration for Theresa May.I hope she finds the strength and will to see this through. Better days will come once were out of this cauldron of mayhem.

Its going to be harder than getting out of an online book club and thats saying something.

David Mitchinson Address supplied

James Moore is right to be alarmed at the recruitment challenges facing the hospitality industry post-Brexit(Brexit to cause 60,000 hospitality recruitment shortage, industry warns, 31 March), but this issue is long-standing and rooted in the poor public image and profound misconceptions of the sector.

Government has a role, but all of us in the industry, including the BHA, need to raise our game and show young people and their families the wealth of exciting and rewarding careersthatexist in hospitality and tourism.

As Principal of a hotel school, I see the brightest and the best graduates move into prestigious jobs within global brands as well as the best UK independents, but this industry offers opportunities for development and progression at all levels as well as future job security.We are told that in our digital age, many professions will become automated in the near future, but hospitality requires initiative, creativity and a flair for communication skills which a robot can never replicate.

Andrew Boer Principal, the Edge Hotel School Colchester

Both Labour and UKIP are having their own issues, but, in fairness, we have suffered for a long time the slings and arrows of the press in the overblown obituary writing of the death of UKIP. The party has some great policies and people. Sadly, they are not currently being shown in the best of light; and the departure of Douglas Carswell is a point in question.

When asked about the death of UKIP I and others answer it this way; we are not a protest party, we represented at the last GE over four million people in this country and it is only the antiquated first past the post system that stops ourselves and the Greens from being a force for change. We also are not a single issue party and should not be painted in that manner, as only being about leaving the EU.

We are a party in our own right with great policy ideas and should be seen in that way.

However, sadly, some are bathing in the reflected glory of a referendum result, great though that was, I am not one of them and wish to speak for those who voted for us then, now and in the future.

So, to close, the death of UKIP is much exaggerated as will be seen.

Chris Gallacher Chairman, Ukip Redcar

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In years to come the UK will regret leaving the European Union - The Independent