The European affairs ministers of the 27 member states, meeting on Monday 22 May, voted unanimously to adopt the negotiating directives that form the mandate for the EU negotiator for Brexit and formally appointed Michel Barnier to that role. Ministers also set up a working group, which will meet for the first time on Tuesday 23 May, to support the work of the European Council and the General Affairs Council on the talks with the United Kingdom.
The ministers’ meeting on Monday was, as...