Brussels — Britain accepted the European Union’s timetable for Brexit talks on Monday, in an apparent climbdown on the first day of formal negotiations in Brussels. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the talks with Brexit minister David Davis, which are starting a full year after Britain’s seismic vote to leave, had started "on the right foot". In carefully choreographed talks that even saw the two men exchange mountaineering gifts, they agreed to discuss divorce issues before negotiations on a future trade deal can start. These include the thorny issues of Britain’s estimated €100bn exit bill, the rights of EU citizens living in Britain, and the fate of the border in Northern Ireland.
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