EU to Adopt Draft of Directives for Trade Negotiations With UK, EC Says

The European Commission said it has taken its “first step” to begin negotiations on trade, economic cooperation, foreign policy and more with the United Kingdom and will soon adopt a draft of “negotiating directives” to formally begin talks, according to a Feb. 3 press release. In a statement, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU wants to quickly reach a deal but the commission will “defend EU interests, and the interests of our citizens, right until the end.” Michel Barnier, the EC's chief negotiator, said the EU will try “to find solutions that respect the UK's choices.”