Special European Council (art. 50), Brussels, 29 April 2017

Author (Corporate)
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Series Details 29.04.17
Publication Date 29/04/2017
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The special European Council, in an EU 27 format, met in Brussels on the 29 April 2017 and adopted the guidelines for the Brexit negotiations for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, following the triggering of the Article 50 process by the United Kingdom on the 29 March 2017.

The guidelines will define the framework for negotiations and set out the overall EU positions and principles during the talks. The European Council will update the guidelines in the course of the negotiations as necessary.

The three key priorities would be:

+ guarantee EU and UK citizens' rights
+ settle the UK's financial obligations to the EU
+ avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The guidelines made clear that the nature of the future relationship between the EU and the UK could only be discussed after these issues had been satisfactorily negotiated.

The EU's main negotiator would be Michel Barnier. Following on from the guidelines adopted on the 29 April 2017, the European Commission would propose the negotiating mandate for Mr Barnier on the 3 May 2017.

The Council of the European Union would adopt these on the 22 May 2017. Formal negotiation would provisionally start after the UK General Election on the 8 June 2017.

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council said 'I want to underline the outstanding unity of all the 27 leaders on the guidelines for our negotiations with the UK. (…) We now have unanimous support from all the 27 member states and the EU institutions, giving us a strong political mandate for these negotiations'.

Donald Tusk presented to Members of the European Parliament in plenary session oin the 17 May 2017 the Guidelines for Brexit negotiations agreed by the Member States at the summit on 29 April 2017. He welcomed the alignment with the ‘red lines’ set by the European Parliament.

Source Link http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2017/04/29/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Article 50 to be triggered on 29 March / President Tusk calls a European Council on Brexit for 29 April 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/article-50-to-be-triggered-on-29-march-president-tusk-calls-a-european-council-on-brexit-for-29-april/
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/
EurActiv, 26.04.17: EU leaders to tighten Brexit demands on citizen’s rights, banks http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/eu-leaders-to-tighten-brexit-demands-on-citizens-rights-banks/
European Council: Press Release, 28.04.17; Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to the members of the European Council (Art. 50) http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/04/28-tusk-invitation-letter-euco-art50/
BBC News, 28.04.17: Brexit: Tusk says UK trade deal not a priority http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39742949
EurActiv, 28.04.17: Battle lines and ‘illusions’ ahead of EU summit on Brexit http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/battle-lines-and-illusions-ahead-of-eu-summit-on-brexit/
EUObserver, 28.04.17: May accuses EU-27 of 'lining up against Britain' https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/137713
EUObserver, 27.04.17: 'Serene' EU warns UK against Brexit 'illusions' https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/137710
European Council: European Council (Art. 50) guidelines for Brexit negotiations, 29 April 2017 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/04/29-euco-brexit-guidelines/
EUObserver, 29.04.17: EU boasts unity on Brexit talks https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/137729
Politico, 30.04.17: For EU27, the hard part of Brexit starts now http://www.politico.eu/article/for-eu27-the-hard-part-of-brexit-starts-now/
EurActiv, 29.04.17: Leaders call for discipline to maintain fragile unity in Brexit talks http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/leaders-call-for-discipline-to-maintain-fragile-unity-in-brexit-talks/
The Guardian, 29.04.17: EU leaders agree on tough stance at special Brexit summit https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/29/eu-leaders-set-to-take-tough-stance-in-special-brexit-summit
Blog: UK in a Changing Europe, 29.04.17: What about the EU side? http://ukandeu.ac.uk/what-about-the-eu-side/
European Council: Press Release, 29.04.17: Remarks by President Tusk ahead of the Special European Council (Art.50) of 29 April 2017 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/04/29-tusk-doorstep-before-european-council-art50/
European Council: Press Release, 29.04.17: Remarks by President Tusk on the Special European Council (Art.50) of 29 April 2017 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/04/29-tusk-remarks-special-european-council-art50/
Euro|Topics: Debates, May 2017: May rejects EU's Brexit demands http://www.eurotopics.net/en/178388/may-rejects-eu-s-brexit-demands
EUObserver, 02.05.17: Brussels gossip? May belittles report on Juncker clash https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/137738
Politico, 29.04.17: EU puts Brexit ball in Britain’s court http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-paves-path-to-brexit-deal-and-wonders-will-u-k-take-it/
EU: EEAS: Press Release, 29.04.17: Doorstep remarks by HR/VP Federica Mogherini upon arrival at the Special European Council (Art.50) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/25304/
Germany: Federal Government: News, 29.04.17: Special meeting of the European Council on Brexit. EU-27 demonstrate unity https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Reiseberichte/2017_en/2017-04-29-merkel-er-bruessel_en.html
EPRS: At a Glance: Post - European Council Briefing, May 2017: Outcome of the special European Council (Article 50) meeting of 29 April 2017 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2017/603226/EPRS_ATA(2017)603226_EN.pdf
European Parliament: Press Release, 17.05.17: MEPs welcome unity on Brexit and call for reform of the EU http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170509IPR73931/
European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/1362, 17.05.17: Speech by President Juncker at the European Parliament Plenary session on the conclusions of the Special European Council (Article 50) of 29 April 2017 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-1362_en.htm
European Council: Statement, 17.05.17: Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the Special European Council (Art. 50) of 29 April http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/05/17-tusk-report-european-parliament/
ECFR: Commentary, 17.05.17: The liberation of Europe http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_liberation_of_europe_7291

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