‘Talks about talks’ Brexit meeting heralds start of first round of negotiations

What is happening today?

David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, will start talks in Brussels with Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator. The one-day session will close in the late afternoon with a joint press conference.

What will be achieved?

The meeting has been dubbed “talks about talks”. The European Commission said that the meeting would take place “as part of the sequenced approach to the talks”, which require progress to be made on withdrawal arrangements before any talks on trade can begin.

When will the full negotiations begin?

EU sources have said they do not expect substantive negotiations to begin until mid-july. British sources say the date remains up for discussion. Both teams will meet for one week in each month, before returning to base to report back and develop positions.

What will be covered in the first phase of the talks?

The first issue on the agenda will be agreeing the rights of some 4.5million citizens in the UK and on the Continent. The talks will also focus on the UK’S “divorce bill” and the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

What is the second phase of talks?

In October, Mr Barnier is set to report back to the EU27 – the other EU member states not including Britain – on whether sufficient progress has been made to move on to phase two of the talks, covering the UK’S future trade relationship with the remaining EU.

When will Britain have officially left the EU?

Britain will cease to be a member of the EU on March 29 2019: two years after the invocation of Article 50 in the Lisbon Treaty. The UK will no longer be subject to its treaties, whether or not an agreement is in place.

What does the Queen’s Speech say on Brexit?

The Queen’s Speech sets out details of extensive legislation required to put Brexit into effect, expected to include a Great Repeal Bill bringing EU laws and regulations on to the British statute book.