Restart of UK-EU Brexit: Future Relations negotiations

Today the Brexit: Future Relations negotitations restarts for the first of three agreed and scheduled negotiations rounds before the next deadline in June.

The UK and and EU negotiators have agreed to stage three further rounds of talks on a post-Brexit trade deal.

David Frost, the UK’s chief negotiator, and the European Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, have discussed progress via video conference.

The new timetable was last week confirmed in a joint statement, which described the talks as “constructive”.

Downing Street has consistently said it is committed to agreeing a deal by December 2020.
The dates have been set for three full weeks of talks commencing on 20 April, 11 May and 1 June.

Face to face talks were cancelled last month because of the coronavirus outbreak – and Mr Frost and Mr Barnier both spent a period in self-isolation due to the virus.

Under the terms of the agreement with the EU, the UK has until the end of the year – during which it will continue to follow most Brussels rules – to reach a deal.

It was also agreed that specialised committees on Northern Ireland and on citizens’ rights would also meet soon.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the government wanted to see future relationship talks with the EU concluded by the end of this year.

He said: “I’m confident that that work can continue and hopefully reach a satisfactory conclusion, but we remain committed to the timeline that we set out.”

Source: BBC News