And coming up in the sport on bbc news Johanna Konta continues to impress. She becomes the first british woman to make the final of the miami 0pen. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. The European Union has given its first formal response to the uks decision to trigger article 50, and begin the process of leaving the eu. The president of the european council, donald tusk, warned the talks would be complex and sometimes confrontational. And he said negotiations on Future Trade Relations would only start after there had been what he called sufficient progress on the Separation Settlement between the eu and the uk. He was speaking at a meeting of eu leaders in malta, from where our europe correspondent, chris morris, sent this report. Trying to get serious. Two days ago donald tusk expressed emotion at the prospect of the uk leaving the eu. This morning it was down to business. He has sent Draft Negotiating Deadlines to the other 27 countries setting up tough tone for two y
For brexit negotiations, arguing for a phased approach to the talks. The president of the European Council, donald tusk, insisted the first stage would concentrate on the uks divorce from the union and only when there was sufficient progress would the talks move on. The government had said it wants to discuss its separation and a Future Trade Deal at the same time. Donald tusk appeared to concede that Talks On Trade could begin before the divorce settlement was agreed and said that the European Council will monitor progress closely and determine when sufficient progress has been achieved to allow negotiations to proceed to the next phase. There was a warm tone on a possible future relationship with the document stating that although the uks relationship with the eu. Cannot offer the same benefits as union membership, strong and constructive ties will remain in both sides interest and should encompass more than just trade. But one phrase in the document is likely to cause considerable c