EU demands Brexit progress before trade talks
The European Union has demanded that Britain make "significant progress" on its divorce from the bloc before talks on a trade deal can start, as it unveiled its tough Brexit negotiating guidelines on Friday. EU president Donald Tusk rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May's demand for immediate parallel negotiations made in her historic letter triggering the Brexit process on Wednesday. Taking a firm tone, Tusk said London must make headway on the bill for the split, safeguarding the rights of three million European citizens living in Britain and also the border in Northern Ireland.