EU’s Brexit battle plan

The leaders of the EU 27 agreed Thursday on how they will approach Brexit negotiations once the U.K. activates divorce proceedings.

In a roadmap released Friday, the leaders outlined the working relationship between EU institutions and the way governments will keep track of and control the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.

To ensure Barnier represents the views of the EU 27 rather than just the European Commission, his team will include a representative of the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU “in order to ensure transparency and build trust.”

A representative of Council President Donald Tusk will attend every meeting between Barnier and the British government “in a supporting role.”

The European Council, the EU’s heads of state and government, will remain in overall charge of negotiations, with responsibility for day-to-day operations delegated to various groupings of ministers, diplomats and bureaucrats.

At the ministerial level, the General Affairs Council — comprised of foreign or European affairs ministers — will take the lead, and will be asked to “proceed swiftly with the adoption of the decision authorizing the opening of the negotiations … and to deal with the subsequent steps in the process.”

The EU 27 “sherpas” will meet in parallel to the General Affairs Council ahead of EU summits “as necessary.”

The European Parliament, after protests about being sidelined, will be invited to an exchange of views at the beginning of these meetings. Barnier may also choose to keep the Parliament “closely and regularly informed throughout the negotiation.” In addition, the rotating presidency “will be prepared to inform and exchange views” with MEPs before and after the General Affairs Council meets.

In line with Article 50, no representatives of the U.K. government at any level will be able to participate in discussions involving the EU 27.

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