Juncker’s ‘Autopsy Report’ of Meeting with May Promises ‘Accelerated’ Brexit Talks

Brexit negotiations must be “accelerated” if the two sides are to strike a deal, Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have said after meeting Monday night.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Juncker appeared to prejudge the outcome of the dinner with Theresa May, telling reporters there would be an “autopsy report” following the meeting.

Backtracking on the initial negativity, the two leaders claimed to have had “a broad, constructive exchange on current European and global challenges,” in a joint statement.

They added: “The Prime Minister and the president of the European Commission reviewed the progress made in the Article 50 negotiations so far and agreed that these efforts should accelerate over the months to come.”

The statement, however, gave few concrete details on how progress had been made and when trade talks could begin.

The Prime Minister had travelled to Brussels in an attempt to break the deadlock over Brexit negotiations on the so-called “divorce bill”, citizens’ rights, and Northern Ireland.

European Union (EU) negotiators have refused to allow trade talks to commence until “sufficient progress” is made, without defining what “sufficient” means.

Asked about the meeting on Monday, Mr. Juncker said: “I never understood why journalists – even the most eminent journalists – ask for an outcome of a meeting before the meeting takes place.

“I will see Mrs. May this evening, we will talk and you will have the autopsy report afterward.”

The comments came as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, speaking ahead of a summit of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, said that it is “time to head for the open sea” and move Brexit negotiations on.

“We think in the UK that it’s time to get on with these negotiations,” he said, whilst urging negotiators to “put a tiger in the tank” and push discussions forward, The Telegraph reports.

Jean-Claude #Juncker was asked today what is expected from his meeting with #TheresaMay to be held this evening.
Here’s the answer: pic.twitter.com/PFA6nDHsh8

— My country? Europe. (@mycountryeurope) October 16, 2017

Mr. Johnson said: “We’ve made a very good offer, we’ve made a very fair (offer), and we think it’s a reasonable point of view that we’re outlining.

“Let’s give them that reassurance, let’s put a tiger in the tank, let’s get these conversations going and stop letting the grass grow under our feet.”

Last week, Mrs. May revealed to the EU how the UK is preparing to walk away from the bloc without a trade deal if progress is blocked or a poor offer made.

The government published draft legislation on how the UK will implement independent trade and customs arrangements from “day one” of Brexit in March 2019.

The Prime Minister has already offered to pay a huge ‘divorce bill’ and Eurosceptic MPs have slammed her for making steep concessions to the EU, including admitting that EU courts could continue to wield power in the UK after 2019.