‘The start of a very long and difficult road’ - EU Chief Negotiator for Brexit

The EU’s Chief Brexit Negotiator, Michel Barnier, yesterday said it was “day one of a very long and difficult road.”

Mr Barnier was meeting Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the Auberge de Castille as Britain officially notified the EU of its intention to leave the bloc.

Mr Barnier, who is in Malta for the European People’s Party congress, said however, that the EU will look to establish a fair agreement for the long term future of union members.

The remaining 27 member states will be releasing joint statements once the EU receives the official document informing them of the UK’s intent.

It was revealed that the remaining member states will begin drafting the guidelines for their common position on negotiations once the UK triggers Article 50.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insisted that Brexit negotiations must be transparent, honest, and open.

Dr Muscat said that while he still holds that the negotiations should be fair for both sides, it was imperative that EU membership emerged as the superior option. He also told Mr Barnier that EU member states will have complete faith in his ability as their representative in negotiations.

Dr Muscat assured the chief negotiator that he would not be dealing with 27 separated discussions with each member state, but would rather make it clear that the EU has one common vision.