The General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (Council) has adopted the following:
- Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for an agreement setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal from the European Union;
- Council Decision concerning the establishment of the ad hoc Working Party on Article 50 Treaty on European Union (TEU) chaired by the General Secretariat of the Council; and
- guiding principles for transparency under Article 50 of the TEU.
The text of the adopted decision authorising the opening of Brexit negotiations and the adopted negotiating directives are based on a recommendation presented by the European Commission (Commission) on 3 May 2017 and build on the guidelines adopted by the European Council on 29 April 2017. Their adoption provides for the start of negotiations with the UK following its notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU (under Article 50 of the TEU).
Louis Grech, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta and President of the Council noted:
“Today we have established the EU position on the key issues for the beginning of the talks. The rights of citizens are at the very top of our agenda and we aim for an ambitious solution, where those affected continue to enjoy their rights”.
In terms of next steps, the Commission will agree with the UK the dates for the first negotiating sessions. The first formal meeting between the EU and the UK negotiators is likely to take place in June 2017.
View Council authorises European Commission to start negotiations on behalf of EU, 22 May 2017
View Council Decision concerning the establishment of the ad hoc Working Party on Article 50 TEU chaired by the General Secretariat of the Council, 22 May 2017
View Guiding principles for transparency in negotiations under Article 50 TEU, 22 May 2017
