Brexit: Results General Affairs Council (article 50) – 17 October

Main results below – results in full here

Brexit

The Council, in EU27 format, was informed by the EU Brexit Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, on the progress so far in the negotiations with the UK. Ministers then finalised the preparations for the upcoming European Council (Article 50) on 20 October 2017 with a discussion on the draft conclusions for the summit.

EU agencies relocation

EU27 ministers held a political discussion on the relocation of the two EU agencies currently based in the UK: the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority.

There have been 8 offers from member states to host the EBA and 19 offers to host the EMA. Following the assessment of the offers presented by the Commission on 30 September, ministers  reflected on a range of considerations to be taken into account in the run-up to their meeting on 20 November 2017, when they will take the final decision on the relocation with a vote.