During the EP plenary session (3-6 April 2017) in Strasbourg, the&nbsp;Council&nbsp;and Commission express themselves on setting out their Brexit priorities, just before talks start on the UK&rsquo;s withdrawal from the EU. Statements by Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, and&nbsp; Michel BARNIER, Chief Negotiator in charge of the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Negotiations with the United Kingdom following its notification on 29 March 2017  to withdraw from the EU: extracts from the Council and Commission statements

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, The only positive outcome will be possible if we keep in mind the best interest of European citizens and of European businesses. We also need to work to reduce the negative impact, as we know that this is a loss for the Union, is a loss for both parts. It is crucial to minimise the negative impact on European citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Ian BORG, Maltese Presidency of the EU, The formal negotiations will start towards the end of the Maltese Presidency when there will be talks about the negotiating directives.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, The role of this Parliament is more important than ever. You must scrutinise and validate the final agreement. No negotiation, no separation without representation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, One of the best decisions I have taken since I am President of the Commission was the appointment of Michel Barnier as our Chief Negotiator.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, A third country cannot have the same benefits as a Member State. This Parliament must and will ensure that this reality is fully appalled over the cause of the next two years. We will of course negotiate in friendship and openness, not in a hostile mood, with a country that has brought so much to our Union and will remain close to our hearts long after they have left.

SOUNDBITE (French), Michel BARNIER, Chief Negotiator in charge of the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the TEU, Your Resolution will be the first political stand taken by a European Institution following the notification letter sent last week by the government of the United Kingdom to the President of the European Council.  With this Resolution you will set the tone by speaking to the British government, the governments of the 27 but also &ndash; and especially &ndash; to European citizens.

SOUNDBITE (French), Michel BARNIER, Chief Negotiator in charge of the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the TEU, Unity is essential, for our Union but also for our British partners: at the end of the day if the Union is disunited, there simply will not be an agreement. And if there is no agreement, the consequences will be heavy, for the United Kingdom especially, but also for the Union. That is why the no deal scenario is not our scenario. Our ambition must be to succeed. For this to happen, we must explain what we are doing and why we are doing it. That is our duty towards citizens.

SOUNDBITE (French), Michel BARNIER, Chief Negotiator in charge of the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the TEU, But the devil is in the detail. We must ensure that this agreement effectively guarantees the rights of citizens. And that is indeed the Parliament's role. On the budget: there must be a single financial settlement, covering all commitments made by the United Kingdom as a Member State. Here again, the Resolution is unambiguous. It is very important. We need to clearly say that we will never punish the United Kingdom or make it pay a single euro more than what it owes. But it must honour the commitments we have taken together.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage leaving the Hemicycle.

Negotiations with the United Kingdom following its notification on 29 March 2017 to withdraw from the EU: extracts from the Council and Commission statements

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