An interview with European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström of Sweden (Spiegel Online); Post-Brexit Trade Agreement; People's Rights

The Spiegel Interview

Final Q and A:

SPIEGEL: The British now want to handle all of this on their own and have decided in favor of Brexit. Will there be a free trade agreement with Britain after it leaves the EU?

Malmström: The British will, of course, remain our friends and partners. But after Britain leaves, it will become a third country -- and no longer be part of the EU. We can talk about the contours of such an agreement. But it will take a number of years to negotiate the details. I think it is unrealistic to think that we will already have a trade agreement in place by April 1, 2019.


EU sets out demands on post-Brexit people's rights, EU Observer

Subject: Working paper "Essential Principles on Citizens' Rights" Origin: European Commission, Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU  (pdf)

Objective: For discussion at the Council Working party (Art. 50) of 30 May 2017 

Remarks: The attached working paper on "Essential Principles on Citizens' Rights" contains the main principles of the EU position in this regard, to be presented to the UK in the context of negotiations under Art. 50