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DAVID Davis and Michel Barnier have kicked off the Brexit negotiations this morning with a historic handshake in Brussels.

The Brexit Secretary and EU’s chief negotiator appeared together on stage as they face off in the opening round of what promises to be bruising talks over the UK’s exit.

 David Davis and Michael Barnier began their talks with a historic handshake
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David Davis and Michael Barnier began their talks with a historic handshakeCredit: AP

Speaking at the start of the talks, Mr Davis said they were about building “a new deep and special relationship”.

Appearing alongside Mr Barnier he paid his condolences to the victims of this morning’s attack in Finsbury Park, as well as those who have died in the Portuguese wildfires.

He said: “At testing times like these reminded of values and resolve we share with closest allies. There is more that unites us than divides us.”

 The pair are facing off in Brussels this morning
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The pair are facing off in Brussels this morningCredit: AP

Mr Davis said he expected "challenging times ahead" in talks expected to stretch for around 16-18 months ahead of the UK's withdrawal from the EU in 2019.

Mr Barnier said that the purpose of the talks was to deliver an "orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU".

"Our objective is clear," he added. "We must first tackle the uncertainties caused by Brexit, first for citizens but also for the beneficiaries of EU policies and for the impact on borders, in particular Ireland."

He said he hoped during their single day of talks, he and Mr Davis would be able to identify priorities and a timetable for the ongoing negotiations, so that he can report back to leaders of the other 27 EU states at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday.

 They will be discussing the so- called 'divorce bill' first up
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They will be discussing the so- called 'divorce bill' first upCredit: AP

The pair are set to appear back on stage together this evening to discuss the results of their opening sparring session.

It comes as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson sought to calm tensions by saying: “I think the whole process will lead to a happy resolution which can be done with honour and profit to both sides.”

Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg he said the talks should aim to prepare the ground for a "deep and special partnership" that London wants with the European Union.

 They will appear later today to discuss how the opening sparring session will go
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They will appear later today to discuss how the opening sparring session will goCredit: EPA

He added: “Obviously this is the first day of the talks on Brexit and I think the most important thing is we should all start – of course there’ll be lots of discussions about the nature of the deal we are going to do.

"But I think we should also enter on the discussion about money and so and so forth.

“But I think the most important think about us now is for us to look to the horizon.

 Boris Johnson sought to calm tensions between the UK and the EU
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Boris Johnson sought to calm tensions between the UK and the EUCredit: Getty Images

“Raise our eyes to the horizon. Think about the future. Think about the new partnership.”

Mr Johnson has previously described the estimates emerging from Brussels of the so-called “divorce bill” as “absurd”.

He added today: “I think the whole thing, the whole process will lead to a happy resolution that I think can be done with profit and with honour for both side and that’s what we’re aiming for.”

'To build a new, deep and special partnership with the EU'

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis said:

"I’m here in Brussels today, to begin the next phase of our work to build a new, deep and special partnership with the European Union.

"But our thoughts this morning are rightly with the victims and families of the awful attack in London early this morning and with those who have lost loved ones in Portugal too in that terrible tragedy there.

"It is at testing times like these that we are reminded of the values and the resolve we share with our closest allies in Europe.

"For there is more that unites us than divides us.

"So while there will undoubtedly be challenging times ahead of us in the negotiations we will do all that we can to ensure we deliver a deal that works in the best interests of all of our citizens.

"To that end we are starting this negotiation in a positive and constructive tone, determined to build a strong and special partnership between ourselves, our European allies and friends."

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