Press Advisories

23. 3. 201821:53

Prime Minister Babiš and Other EU Leaders Have Approved Further Guidelines for Brexit Negotiations

Today the European Council continued their talks that started yesterday. The European leaders went on with discussions about trade measures adopted by the United States. Subsequently, in a EU27 format, they approved guidelines for Michel Barnier, the chief of negotiations about the future relations between EU and the United Kingdom.

Presidents and prime ministers of the member states appreciated a temporary exemption granted by the United States to EU countries from the imposed tariffs on import of steel and aluminum. At the same time, they supported European Commission´s efforts to continue negotiations with the United States. EU insists that the exemption granted to the European Union should be permanent. The United States is the strategic partner of the European Union and we need to strive that this matter does not disturb the transatlantic relation.

The meeting today continued in an EU27 format. The chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, updated the heads of states about the current status of Brexit talks. The text of a legal agreement about the secession is nearly agreed. A few more chapters need to be resolved by this June, including the situation in Ireland.

EU wants to keep a close relationship with the United Kingdom not only in trade but also in the areas of security, defense and foreign policy. “We are preparing a visit of the chief negotiator, Mr. Michel Barnier, who is expected to come to Prague on 13 April. Last week I talked to David Davis, the British Brexit minister. We can see that the whole process is moving forward,“ said the Prime Minister Babiš, who yesterday personally talked to the British Prime Minister Theresa May about the current development of affairs.

At the end of the meeting leaders of the 27 member states approved the mandate for Michel Barnier to conduct negotiations about the future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom.