as the eu publishes its brexit strategy, it warns of a rocky road ahead. talks, which are about to start, will be difficult, complex and sometimes even confrontational. there's no way around it. we'll be asking how this tough talk has gone down in downing street. also tonight, hard decisions for the nhs as britain and the european union start two years of brexit

negotiations. the eu today published its strategy, refusing theresa may's request to have parallel talks on a future trade deal. mr tusk said there had to be "sufficient progress" on issues such as the status of citizens in each other‘s countries, and the border between northern ireland and the irish republic, before future relations could be discussed. and, for the first time, the issue of gibraltar featured the chiefs of eu institutions are usually little known outside the brussels bubble. but brexit has changed all that. this is my first divorce... dusky lark dusk, president of the —— donald tusk, president of the —— donald tusk, president of the european council, today presented the draft brexit guidelines. the mood music — polite but steely. the talkeds, which are

about to start, will be difficult, complex and sometimes even confrontational. mr tusk was the recipient of the prime minister's brexit letter this wednesday. why him? because he represents all eu brexit letter this wednesday. why him? becaust on represents all eu brexit letter this wednesday. why him? becaust on reprer politicaleu the eu says it doesn't decisions. the eu says it doesn't wa nt to decisions. the eu says it doesn't want to punish britain. it wants to keep the uk close with trade and security ties. but gone are those words of sadness and regret that poured out of brussels after the brexit vote. now that the formal process of leaving has begun, the eu's message today: we're ready for you. the eu is committed to a phase add preach to brexit —— phased approach to brexit. phase one, the divorce. top priorities for the eu — safeguarding the rights of eu citizens in the uk and of britons gci’oss citizens in the uk and of britons across the eu. agreeing a one—off exit fee for the uk to cover

outstanding financial commitments outsta ridingfinancialcemmitmentsl without - phase friday agreement. phase two: discussing future eu—uk relations, but only once significant progress has been made on the divorce. phase three: making traditional agreements, if needed to bridge the end of article 50 talks and start a new era in eu—uk relations. there are bumps in the road aplenty, british and european ones even before negotiations start. today there was a surprise row over gibraltar. the eu draft guidelines say no future agreement with the uk can apply to gibraltar without a nod from spain, which disputes britain's sovereignty over the territory. the foreign secretary had to defend the prime minister's brexit

withdraw security cooperation if it didn't a good ~ , withdraw security cooperation if it didn't a good trade withdraw security cooperation if it didn't. a dead trade deal. withdraw security cooperation if it didn't - a need trade deal. the didn't get a good trade deal. the uk's commitment to the defence and the security of this region, of europe, is unconditional and it is not some bargaining chip in any negotiatiations. but eu countries are wary. if we see the letter that has been sent by the british prime minister, some would say it was a little bit aggressive. that's not the attitude that we will be having around the table. i mean, yes, we are willing to come to an agreement, but if you ask too much, then maybe there is no agreement and i'm not sure if that's a good thing for the british. picking and choosing is fine, in belgian chocolate shops. but brussels says britain can forget having a bit of this and none of that when it comes to the single market. there is goodwill on both sides, but having cake and eating it will be one of britain's brexit challenges. katya adler, bbc news,

brussels. our deputy political editor, john pienaar, is in downing street tonight. theresa may wanted parallel talks on divorce and trade. she hasn't got that. what's the reaction been? well, downing street never really expected donald tusk‘s first response to be especially encouraging and it wasn't. the reaction has been pretty cordial, marking time and hoping somehow to turn the negotiations britain's way when they get started. as for those negotiations, when they start, ministers will begin confident they can secure the rights of eu nationals in this country and brits tougher. borisjohnson has posted a message on twitter this evening pledging britain to be rock like in support of gibraltar over spanish claims of sovereignty. ministers will have to seek understanding, respecting the wishes of people there and without spain in the words of one minister to me, losing too much face. tougher still is the

financial settlement. any big deal will meet a wall of resistance from tory ha rd will meet a wall of resistance from tory hard liners. some of them would be quite happy to walk away with no deal making a clean breakfrom be quite happy to walk away with no deal making a clean break from the eu. there's another big challenge. after a ll eu. there's another big challenge. after all the talk of taking back control, keeping public opinion on side with the compromises and tradeoffs to come could be tougher than anything. it's been a day of heavy, enormous political challenges oi’ heavy, enormous political challenges or if you prefer a normal day in the office in british politics these days. many thanks. hotels, restaurants and the tourism industry have warned they'll face a recruitment crisis, if immigration from the eu is heavily restricted after the uk leaves. the british hospitality association says it relies on 60,000 eu workers a year, but unions have accused the sector of not doing enough to recruit and train british workers. 0ur economics editor, kamal ahmed, reports. hello! the hospitality sector — holiday parks, restaurants, hotels — is all about entertainment, making customers happy.

she's concerned about her future. there's loads of question marks, and we lost the stability now. my son, he's eight, he knewjust a basic thing about the brexit, but his concerns that we are going to leave his school, that he will leave his