EC authorized to begin negotiations with UK

The executive arm of the European Union has been mandated to begin negotiations with the United Kingdom following the county’s “Brexit” vote to leave the union.    The European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union (EU), has been mandated by the European Council to open Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom following the country’s so-called “Brexit” vote to leave the EU.
   The negotiating directive authorizes the EC as union negotiator and provides the necessary political and legal mandate to negotiate on behalf of the 27 EU member states.
   According to the EC, the negotiations will begin with a first phase that will tackle three main areas: safeguarding the status and rights of UK and EU citizens, reaching a financial settlement agreement under the UK’s obligations as an EU member, and establishing the new external borders of the EU.
   The EC has already published a transparency policy for the negotiations to ensure full accountability during the talks and has said it will also share negotiating documents with member states both in draft form and published form.
   Formal proceedings will occur when the UK is ready, the EC said in a statement.