Formal discussions between the 27 member states on a common mandate to negotiate the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union will begin in Brussels, with the aim of launching technical talks with London in the second half of May.
According to an informal timetable of which EUROPE has had sight, the triggering of Article 50 of the Treaty by the British government on Wednesday 29 March, formally launching the procedure of the country's withdrawal from the EU (see EUROPE 11757), will now usher in a rapid succession of meetings in Brussels at various levels, to finalise the negotiating mandate of the EU27. The aim is for this mandate, which has already been under preparation for several months, to be definitively approved by the European Council meeting of 29 April.
On Friday 31 March, the national ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) will hold a first general discussion on the general outlines of the mandate. The 'sherpas', diplomatic advisers to the European leaders, will meet on 11 April, then again on 24 April to prepare for the debate at Coreper on 26 April, which will aim to allow the 27 European affairs ministers to debate the matter on 27 April, with a view to a final draft mandate the day after. This is the version to be put before the 27 leaders meeting in Brussels on 29 April.
Then – assuming the mandate is approved – negotiations with London may start in the second half of May at Council working group level. They will run until autumn 2018, in line with the current aim of allowing the final agreement to be ratified by the member states and European institutions for the United Kingdom to leave the EU on 29 March 2019. (Original version in French by Jan Kordys)