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EU sets up Brexit "task force"

Xinhua, September 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Commission said on Wednesday it has decided to set up a Brexit "task force" (Article 50 Task Force) to carry out negotiations with Britain.

The Article 50 Task Force will be in charge of preparing and conducting the negotiations with Britain, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the European Union, a statement said.

"This new Task Force will be composed of the Commission's best and brightest," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said.

This Task Force will be led by Michel Barnier, who was appointed by Juncker in July as Chief Negotiator in charge of those negotiations.

The Commission has also decided to appoint Sabine Weyand, a senior Commission trade official, as Deputy Chief Negotiator. She is currently the Deputy Director-General in the Commission's trade department.

"Michel and his team 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," Juncker said.

According to the Commission, Barnier, as Chief Negotiator, will be ranked at the Director-General level and will take up his duties as of Oct. 1, 2016. Endit