Deputy Minister for EU Affairs Matti Maasikas and the European Commission’s Chief Negotiator on the British exit from the European Union, Michel Barnier met today in Tallinn to discuss the current state of play in the talks and possibilities of reaching the second stage – concerning the post-Brexit relationship between the EU and Britain.
Maasikas confirmed that all 27 Member States were fully behind Barnier, whose team is in hard-pressed to achieve an understanding so that progress can be made when the European Council convenes next month.
Maasikas said that the prerequisite for reaching the second phase was arriving at a common understanding on all three basic fields: citizens’ rights, settling the UK’s financial obligations, and the border with Ireland. “Obligations must be met and citizens’ rights must be guaranteed,” Maasikas noted.
The Brexit negotiations must produce an agreement in a year’s time – by November 2018. Officials underscore that the UK is an extremely valuable, trustworthy partner for Estonia, and it is in everyone’s interests for cooperation to continue in future as well in different areas, including on foreign policy and security.
Photographs: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmarKfei
Additional information:
Tiina Maiberg
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tel: +372 6377 253
Mob: +372 53 008 703