"We have to calculate scientifically what the British commitments were and then the bill has to be paid," he said. Asked if the bill will be £50 billion, which is about €58 billion, Mr Juncker replied: "It’s around that." Asked if May’s absence from the gathering would be an elephant in the room, Mr Juncker responded: "She is not an elephant," adding that he likes her "as a person". While Brexit was "a failure and a tragedy", the EU would be "firm" and not "naive" in the negotiations, he added. An early deal to guarantee the rights of Europeans living in Britain, and British nationals in the EU, is also a key priority for Mr Juncker.

Source: Bangkok Post March 24, 2017 11:26 UTC