Belgium: EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Barnier announces agreement with UK

W/S EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier arriving at news conference, Brussels
M/S News conference
W/S News conference
SOT, Michel Barnier, EU's Chief Brexit negotiator (French): "We have found an agreement with the British government on an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and also on the framework for our future relationship. This is the result of intensive work by two negotiating teams and I would like to thank them personally, obviously the British and our own team for their tenacity and professionalism. I would also like to point to the results from the European side on the basis of permanent dialogue and real confidence that has been built over the last three years with the 27 member states, with the European parliament."
M/S Journalist asking question
SOT, Michel Barnier, EU's Chief Brexit negotiator (French): "This deal has been agreed between negotiators, with President Juncker who concluded this morning with Prime Minister Johnson. We will present it in a short while at the the European Council of the 27."
W/S News conference
SOT, Michel Barnier, EU's Chief Brexit negotiator (French): "This text, ladies and gentlemen, brings legal certainty, reassurance, to any area where Brexit created, as is the case with all separations, uncertainty, in particular and principally for citizens, for European citizens in the United Kingdom, and British citizens who live in one of our member states. These citizens were and always will be our priority, the priority of member states and of the European Parliament. Uncertainty for these citizens lasted too long and thanks to this deal their rights will finally be guaranteed on a sustainable basis."
M/S Journalist asking question
SOT, Michel Barnier, EU's Chief Brexit negotiator (French): "Lastly, this proposal also covers the transition period, which was requested by the British government and which will last until the end of 2020, so 14 months from now. And that may last one or two years further, subject to a joint agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union."
W/S News conference
SOT, Michel Barnier, EU's Chief Brexit negotiator (French): "We have finally arrived to an agreement and this is equally important in my eyes to revise the political declaration which should be adopted by the European Council and the Parliament. This will be a quite precise framework for negotiations which will now open to build, re-build a future ambitious partnership with the United Kingdom. A friend, partner, ally, country. On this point, Boris Johnson's government has made it clear with respect to the future economic relationship, and that is the choice of a free trade agreement. Any reference to other options, particularly the option of creating a single customs territory has thus been eliminated."
W/S Barnier leaving news conference
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