European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom Michel Barnier speaks during a news conference at EU headquarters, in Brussels, on March 5, 2020.The EU’s chief negotiator in trade talks with former member Britain warned Thursday of “serious divergences” between the two sides after the conclusion of the first round of negotiations.
The teams are expected to meet every two to three weeks, alternating between Brussels and London. Half a dozen or so rounds of negotiations are expected to take place by the end of June. During the transition, Britain remains within the EU’s economic orbit, including its single market for trade in goods and services, even though it has left its political institutions.
On governance, Barnier said U.K. negotiators have asked for a series of sectoral agreements while the EU is pushing for one comprehensive deal that includes all topics up for discussion.