Donald Tusk has outlined the EU’s Brexit negotiation strategy

The proposal, issued by EU Council President Donald Tusk, argues for a “phased approach” in talks and sets the tone for the two-year divorce negotiations.

European Union leaders say they are determined to preserve the bloc’s unity and that any Brexit agreement must not encourage other member states to leave the bloc.

The draft guidelines appeared to offer a concession to Prime Minister Theresa May, suggesting that talks on future trade arrangements could begin once “sufficient progress” was made on the initial Brexit deal.

It comes after Theresa May triggered Article 50 on Wednesday with a letter calling for withdrawal and trade talks to start at the same time, while sparking anger by linking security co-operation to future trade bargaining.

Within hours of the result on June 23 previous year, in which 17.4 million people vote Leave in a 52 per cent to 48 per cent victory for Brexit campaigners, Mr Cameron resigned. “Once principles are agreed and there is sufficient progress, negotiations on a new phase will be able to start”.

“Starting parallel talks on all issues at the same time, as suggested by some in the United Kingdom, will not happen”, he said, adding that the EU-27 will assess “probably [in] the autumn if sufficient progress has been achieved”.

“Starting parallel talks on all issues at the same time as suggested by some in the United Kingdom will not happen”, Tusk said.

Donald Tusk has said he believes Theres May is too “decent” and “wise” to really threaten to withdraw security cooperation from the EU.

Foreseeing the talks would be hard, complex and sometimes confrontational, Tusk hoped the divorce would be as smooth as possible and stressed that the only point contact for the talks would be with EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier. There is no way around it.

The EU27 will also strive to prevent a legal vacuum for European companies as after Brexit the EU laws will no longer apply to the UK. But he also said the European Union will not punish the U.K.in the exit talks, and that the so-called Brexit is punitive enough.

The British government said it looked forward to beginning negotiations once the draft guidelines have been formally agreed by the other 27 European Union states.

He will visit London for talks with the Prime Minister ahead of an April 29 summit in Brussels, when the remaining 27 member states are expected to approve the guidelines, clearing the way for talks to begin in earnest.

Among the criticisms aimed at May, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, lablled the tactic “blackmail”, and warned that security should not be used as a bargaining chip.

Draft guidelines are expected to be circulated to European Union leaders later today, before they are amended and approved at a summit in late April.

The draft says the EU’s overall objective is “to preserve its interests, those of its member states, its citizens and its businesses”.

“We have to find a new relationship [and] we think an association agreement is the best way to go forward”.