EU Commission President Juncker has appointed Michel Barnier as chief negotiator in charge of the Brexit talks.

Mr Barnier is a former vice-president of the European Commission and former French minister.

He will be advised by a group of directors-general dealing with the issues relevant to the negotiations.

"I am very glad that my friend Michel Barnier accepted this important and challenging task. I wanted an experienced politician for this difficult job. Michel is a skilled negotiator with rich experience in major policy areas relevant to the negotiations, namely as Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Agriculture, and as Member of the Commission, in charge of Regional Policy, Institutional Reforms and of Internal Market and Services. He has an extensive network of contacts in the capitals of all EU Member States and in the European Parliament, which I consider a valuable asset for this function," Mr Juncker said.

"Michel will have access to all Commission resources necessary to perform his tasks. He will report directly to me, and I will invite him to brief regularly the College of Commissioners  to keep my team abreast of the negotiations. I am sure that he will live up to this new challenge and help us to develop a new partnership with the United Kingdom after it will have left the European Union."

He takes up his duties on October 1. 

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