Lajčák: Brexit guidelines are in line with Slovak interests

The foreign affairs ministers of the 27 member countries of the EU have agreed on a joint approach to the guidelines for the Brexit talks and this agreement
suits Slovakia's interests well, said Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, after a special meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on April 27, which was devoted to Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

"The member countries came to an agreement fairly quickly and all that Slovakia regards as important has been included," Lajčák said following the meeting, as quoted by the TASR newswire. "Most importantly, this includes the interests of our citizens and also the need for the UK to observe its financial commitments
towards the EU."

Slovakia has two priorities vis-a-vis Brexit - maintaining the current status of Slovak nationals living in the UK and ensuring that the UK delivers on its financial commitments before the end of the present programme period; that is, by the end of 2020, said Lajčák.

Admittedly, the status of Slovak citizens and entrepreneurs in the UK is likely to worsen somewhat, but the EU is committed to minimising the changes, he added.

The unity of the EU27 was the overriding principle in the talks on Thursday.

"We all pledged our support to chief negotiator Michel Barnier and I'd like this spirit of unity to last during the Brexit negotiations," said Lajčák.

Even if a possible deal on collaboration between the EU and the UK is hammered out, mutual relations will never match those seen before the Brexit, he noted.

The guidelines await approval at an extraordinary summit of the EU27 heads of state or government this Saturday. On May 22 the foreign affairs ministers are expected to meet again and give the go ahead for the concrete negotiating principles, TASR wrote.