Brexit negotiations: state of play

On 3 October, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier briefed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the state of play of Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom. President Juncker referred to Prime Minister May's speech in Florence as conciliatory. He stressed that work still remains to be done and said: "I can't say that we are ready to enter the second phase of negotiations." Michel Barnier reiterated that the three main topics for the first part of the discussions on the UK's orderly withdrawal – citizens' rights, the financial settlement, and Ireland – go together.

A fifth round of negotiations will take place in Brussels next week.

MEPs passed a resolution against moving on to the second phase of Brexit talks. Heads of State and Government will make a decision on this at the European Council summit on 19-20 October.

Relocation of the European Banking Authority and the European Medicines Agency

The European Commission published its assessment of the 27 offers received by member states to host the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which are currently located in the United Kingdom. The decision is for the governments of the 27 member states to take. The Council will have a political discussion at the General Affairs Council (Article 50 format) in October 2017. A final decision will be taken at the General Affairs Council (Article 50 format) in November 2017.

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