Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Chief Negotiator, and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, agreed yesterday to launch Article 50 negotiations on Monday, 19 June.
This follows preparatory “talks about talks” this week at civil service level between the European Commission and the United Kingdom. The opening of negotiations at political level next week will focus on issues related to citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, the Northern Irish border and other separation issues, as part of the sequenced approach to the talks.
Both sides will also discuss the structure of the negotiations and the issues that need to be addressed over the coming months. The European Commission has already provided the United Kingdom with its position papers on citizens’ rights and the financial settlement and published both texts on Monday 12 June, in keeping with the Commission’s transparency policy.
