European Commission trying to bully UK: Minister

A top minister has accused the European Commission of "trying to bully the British people" following negative stories about negotiations over UK's exit from the European Union (EU), the media reported on Friday.

Brexit Secretary David Davis in a BBC interview late Thursday said a "line was crossed" when stories suggested the UK could face a 100 billion euro "exit bill".

"Clearly what was happening was the commission was trying to bully the British people - and the British people will not be bullied, and the government will not allow them to be bullied," Davis said.

Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday accused Brussels of interfering in the UK general election, which is scheduled for June 8.

"Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials," she said.

Following May's comments, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: "Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Discretion, moderation and mutual respect needed", Efe news reported.

May officially informed the EU of the UK electorate's wish to withdraw from the bloc on March 29, which sparked a two-year period of Brexit negotiations.

London and Brussels are to begin negotiations from June, following the election, on the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in other EU member states after Brexit, as well as the nation's economic obligations.

May hopes to be able to establish the UK's future trade relationship with the EU during talks, but Brussels has said this is not its priority at the negotiating table.

--IANS

ksk/vm