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Jan-Christoph Nuse said while the exact amount had yet to be decided, British politicians had failed to “really explain” the prospect of a payment to voters. The so-called Brexit bill is set to be under the spotlight during the first stages of the negotiations, according to the European Commission, which is leading the talks on behalf of the EU. The Commission said: “The opening of negotiations at political level will focus on issues related to citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, the Northern Irish border and other separation issues, as part of the sequences approached to talks.” Discussing the prospect, Nuse told Phoenix vor Ort there was no question Britain would be able to leave the EU without contributing to the Brussels coffers one last time.

PHOENIX•GETTY The reporter lamented British politicians for not explaining the EU exit bill to voters

They will be facing a bill and the British politicians have so far not really explained that to their citizens Jan-Christoph Nuse

He said: “We have heard that even the British side has internally long since said that ‘We know we can’t leave the table without paying the proper share of the bill’. “Therefore this isn’t really the question. The question is how much has to be paid and the former commissioner Michel Barnier, who will negotiate for the European Commission, has already sent a long list over for today, 11 pages of documents that list which budget items the British are bound by. It’s truly a long list. “He didn’t say whether it will be 60 billion or 40 or 20. But the British, who are coming here today, they know that they will be facing a bill and the British politicians have so far not really explained that to their citizens.” Elmar Brok, a German MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Brexit negotiating team, insisted it was “only fair” Britain is forced to pay to leave the bloc.

Speaking on the BBC’s Daily Politics, Mr Brok said: ““I would not call it a bill because it’s obligations, I will tell you it’s a divorce agreement. “When European civil servants have worked for 45 years for the United Kingdom, and we believe it is only fair the United Kingdom takes the share of their pensions of these people. “If we have decided certain projects together, to finance it everyone should take its cheque from that. I think it is only fair.” An agreement on the financial settlement is set to be reached by October if both parties adhere to the phased timetable set out by Brussels.

Nigel Farage fumes at Theresa May on GMB Fri, June 9, 2017 Former UKIP Leader Nigel Farage has expressed his fury at Prime Minister Theresa May over the general election, saying that it has now led to a backslide on Brexit. Play slideshow ITV•Getty 1 of 8 General Election 2017: Nigel Farage FUMES at Theresa May