London, Dec 11 (AFP) Prime Minister Theresa May will tellBritish lawmakers today there is a "new sense of optimism"around Brexit talks after striking an initial agreement lastweek with the European Union.
In a statement to parliament following the preliminarydeal reached on Friday with the EU over Britain's divorcebill, citizens' rights and the Irish border, May will say bothsides compromised to defy the doubters.
"Of course, nothing is agreed until everything isagreed," she is expected to tell MPs.
"But there is, I believe, a new sense of optimism now inthe talks and I fully hope and expect that we will confirm thearrangements I have set out today in the European Councillater this week.
"In doing so we can move on to building the bold neweconomic and security relationships that can underpin the newdeep and special partnership we all want to see."Under the proposed agreement, Britain will pay afinancial settlement of between 35-39 billion pound (40-45billion euros, USD 47-52 billion) for leaving the bloc inMarch 2019.
It allows EU citizens living in Britain and its citizensliving in the EU -- as well as their families -- to claimpermanent residency status, alongside the right to work, studyand access healthcare, pension and social securityentitlements.
Meanwhile, Britain has vowed to find a way to avoid ahard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, with thepossibility of "full alignment" with the EU single market andcustoms union rules that are crucial to a 1998 peace accord.
This has led to concern it provides an unexpectedbackdoor to a softer Brexit, reneging on previous pledges thatBritain would be leaving the single market.
But May will tell lawmakers: "This is not about a hard ora soft Brexit.
"The arrangements we have agreed to reach the secondphase of the talks are entirely consistent with the principlesand objectives that I set out in my speeches in Florence andat Lancaster House." (AFP)CK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.