Britain's Brexit negotiations with Brussels will be more than a trial of strength: report

Britain will not be legally obliged to pay money to Brussels after leaving the European Union, a committee of Westminster politicians said Saturday in a report.

But Baroness Falkner, chair of the EU Financial Affairs Committee of the House of Lords, said the issue will be a prominent factor in the Brexit negotiations, with negotiations more than a trial of strength.

A 60-billion-euro payment to the EU is currently being attributed to the EU's powerful commission, says the report.

The committee report says contributions to the EU budget will be a politically sensitive and important element of the forthcoming withdrawal negotiations.

Falkner said: "Even though we consider that the UK will not be legally obliged to pay in to the EU budget after Brexit, the issue will be a prominent factor in withdrawal negotiations.

"The government will have to set the financial and political costs of making such payments against potential gains from other elements of the negotiations.

"The forthcoming negotiations will be more than just a trial of strength. They will be about establishing a stable, cooperative and amicable relationship between the UK and the EU. This will not be possible without good will on both sides," Falkner said.

In its key findings, the committee concluded the budget is going to be a contentious early issue during Britain's negotiations over leaving the EU.

"It is crucial for both parties. The UK provides approximately 12 percent of the EU's budget, and is a significant net contributor.

"The apportionment of existing commitments and, potentially, the EU's assets, would be a matter for political negotiation. Any such division would be enormously complex and there are disagreements over how any final 'bill' could be determined.

"A demand of 60 billion euros is being currently attributed to the (European) Commission, but we find that it is possible to arrive a wide range of figures for any possible EU claim," according to the report.

Speculation among political commentators is that British Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger the article 50 exit process soon after March 15 when Queen Elizabeth gives royal assent to the Brexit bill currently being fast-tracked through the British parliament.

Article 50 refers to the formal procedure by which an EU member state notifies the European Council that it intends to leave the block. Endit