The UK government was infuriated by an extensive leak to a German newspaper last weekend about a meeting between European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister Theresa May.
Ahead of the final round of France's presidential election and the pending Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom, the president of the European Commission chose to give a speech in Italy on Friday in French instead of English.
Juncker said he was opting for French because "slowly and slowly English is losing importance in Europe and France has elections this Sunday and I want the French people to understand what I am saying about the importance of the European Union".
The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator warned today that the bloc won't discuss a future relationship with Britain until all 27 member states are reassured that EU citizens living in the United Kingdom will be treated "properly and humanely".
"These negotiations are hard enough as they are - if we start arguing before they even begin, they will become impossible", Tusk said Thursday, cautioning that "the stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand".
Her comments came after supposed leaks from a dinner between May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker suggested Brexit talks were not going well.
Brexit talks would be easier if European Commission officials "kept their views to themselves", Sir Michael Fallon has said amid claims that the EU is seeking to bully British voters.
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Discretion, moderation, mutual respect and a maximum of good will were required to succeed, said Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who will play an important role in the negotiations.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Friday that British expectations in its divorce proceedings from the European Union were "not realistic", and sent a clear warning that Britain wouldn't escape having to foot a hefty bill for its momentous decision that has shaken the bloc to its core. "And that will make a difference in the years ahead", he said.
Speaking after meeting Queen Elizabeth II to officially start the election campaign, May said the EU's negotiating stance had hardened and some European officials had made "threats" against Britain. "The European Commission has tightened its negotiating position".
Earlier in the day he had tweeted that Brexit talks were "difficult enough". If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Juncker called it "excellent", but noted: "I have the impression sometimes that our British friends. underestimate the technical difficulties we have to face".
She says she wants to strengthen her mandate as she heads into the Brexit negotiations.
"Nevertheless we can be certain that Brexit will inevitably entail a number of negative consequences", Barnier said.
US House Oversight Committee looking into Flynn undisclosed payments
There is a paper trail that the White House does not want our committee to follow, but let it be known that we will follow it. Flynn retroactively registered as a foreign lobbyist with the Department of Justice in March.
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