EU's chief negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, to visit Helsinki

European Commission Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, who is representing the European Union in the Brexit negotiations, will be in Finland to visit Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Thursday 5 April. Prime Minister Sipilä and Chief Negotiator Barnier will discuss the state of the UK departure negotiations and Finland’s priorities in relation to this, as well as other current EU matters.

During his visit, Michel Barnier will also meet President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, Minister of Finance Petteri Orpo, Minister for European Affairs, Culture and Sport Sampo Terho and members of the parliamentary Grand Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee and Commerce Committee, as well as stakeholder and business representatives.

Negotiations are currently under way on the withdrawal agreement, which also includes necessary provisions on the period of transition that will run from the UK’s departure, effective in March 2019, up to the start of its future relationship with the EU. On 23 March 2018, the European Council approved a set of guidelines to be followed by the Commission, negotiating on behalf of the EU, in its discussions with the UK on the framework for the future EU-UK relationship.    

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary for EU Affairs, tel. +358 295 160 319, Riikka Pakarinen, Special Adviser (EU Affairs), tel. +358 40 580 0833 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office