EU gives green light for begin of Brexit talks

BRUSSELS, May 22 (KUNA) -- The EU Council of Ministers adopted a decision Monday authorising the opening of Brexit negotiations with the UK and formally nominating the EU Commission as EU negotiator.
The Council in a statement said that it also adopted negotiating rules for the talks.
"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" said Louis Grech, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta, whose country holds the current EU Presidency.
The first phase of the talks aims to provide as much clarity and legal certainty as possible and to settle the disentanglement of the UK from the EU. Once the European Council deems sufficient progress has been achieved, the negotiations will proceed to the next phase, said the statement.
An agreement on a future relationship between the EU and the UK can only be concluded once the UK effectively leaves the EU and becomes a third country, it noted. (end) nk.mt