Barnier as chief negotiator for UK exit talks with EU

BRUSSELS, July 27 (KUNA) -- The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker announced Wednesday the appointment of Michel Barnier, former Vice-President of the European Commission and former French Foreign Minister, as Chief Negotiator in charge of leading the European Commissionآ’s Taskforce for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the EU treaty to leave the Union.
Barnier will report directly to the President and will have at his disposal the best Commission experts. He will be advised by a group of Directors-General dealing with the issues relevant to the negotiations, noted a statement by the EUآ’s executive body.
"I am very glad that my friend Michel Barnier accepted this important and challenging task. I wanted an experienced politician for this difficult job. Michel is a skilled negotiator with rich experience in major policy areas relevant to the negotiations, namely as Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Agriculture, and as Member of the Commission," said Juncker.
"I am sure that he will live up to this new challenge and help us to develop a new partnership with the United Kingdom after it will have left the European Union," he added.
Barnier, as Chief Negotiator, will be ranked at the Director-General level and will take up his duties as of October first, 2016.
The Heads of State or Government of the 27 EU Member States held an Informal Meeting in Brussels on June 29th following the Referendum of June 23rd in the United Kingdom which voted in favour of leaving the EU.
They agreed on the need to organise the withdrawal of the UK from the EU in an orderly fashion. Article 50 of the EU treaty provides the legal basis for this process. Once the UK triggers the Article 50, Barnier will take the necessary contacts with the UK authorities and all other EU and Member State interlocutors. (end) nk.gta