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STRASBOURG, May 17-- In a Wednesday debate in Strasbourg, Members of European Parliament discussed upcoming Brexit negotiations, praising the European Council for its speed and unity, while calling for reform of the European Union. European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and Chief Brexit Negotiation for the European Union Michel Barnier travelled to Strasbourg to present and discuss with the Parliament new negotiation guidelines that were adopted by the European Council during its April 29 meeting, its first meeting as 27 member states since the Brexit referendum result in June 2016. "What was and remains most important for me is that our conduct in these talks will show the European Union at its best, in terms of unity, political solidarity and fairness towards the United Kingdom," European Council President Tusk confided to Members of European Parliament (MEPs), and thanked the parliamentarians for their guidance and assistance in the negotiation preparations. The guidelines set out the need for a "phased approach" to Brexit negotiations, establishing three priorities that must be addressed in a first stage of talks: the fate of nearly EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in Europe, estimated at 4 million people; an agreement on financial commitments undertaken by the UK while still a member of the EU 28; and measures to preserve peace in Northern Ireland, including ensuring there will not be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreements. | 
