27/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – The rights of 4.5 million citizens facing an “uncertain future” over their place of residence, the UK’s honouring its budget commitment to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework, and preserving the peace agreement in Northern Ireland are the three issues that must be discussed first, in the view of the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times on Monday 27 March, echoing previous statements to the Committee of the Regions (see EUROPE 11751). Once a withdrawal agreement has been achieved, the two parties will be able to negotiate their future relationship which, Barnier said, could take the form of an “ambitious” free-trade deal that ensures high social, environmental and consumer protection standards. There could also be specific security and defence cooperation. (MB)