Negotiators from the European Commission and Britain are meeting on Monday for the fourth time to discuss the terms of Britain’s departure from the bloc, days after British Prime Minister, Theresa May, called for a transition period of two years.
During her speech in Florence on Friday, May said Britain will continue to meet its financial commitments during that time.
“We really need to move forward now. Time is of the essence,” Matti Maasikas, the Estonian Deputy EU Affairs Minister, whose country holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, said.
Britain, a member of the EU since 1973, is the first country ever to begin procedures for leaving the bloc, following a referendum in 2016.
Before the talks are set to kick off, ministers from EU member states except Britain are set to hear an update from the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, about the state of play.
The talks between Barnier and his British counterpart, David Davis, are due to start at 1500 GMT and will last until Thursday.