The future of the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom will be high on the agenda of the European Summit on 24 and 25 September, said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on Friday 18 September after a meeting with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.
This issue is on the EU-27’s agenda as a “ point of information” to “briefly analyse the situation”, said Charles Michel’s spokesperson.
The two men gave an update on the negotiations as media attention in recent days has focused on the controversial UK Internal Market Bill which calls into question the agreement on an orderly Brexit. A new formal round of negotiations is scheduled for 28 September.
In his meeting with Mr Barnier, Mr Michel recalled the “need to fully implement the withdrawal agreement” for an orderly Brexit which cannot be affected by “any questions”.
The EU is neither “intimidated nor impressed, but violating an international agreement is extremely worrying”, he said. Charles Michel stressed that the deadlines for reaching an agreement on the future bilateral relationship are “short” and that “substantial progress” is still needed on fisheries and the level playing field. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)