BREXIT: UK Seeks Clarity On EU Privileges Ahead Of Talks

By Tara Oakes

     BRUSSELS (MNI) - Britain called on the EU on Monday to provide clarity on

the privileges and immunities granted to officials, just prior to the start of

the next round of Brexit talks.

     The Department for Exiting the EU published a technical note asking for the

clarifications early Monday afternoon, hours before talks between UK negotiator

David Davis and his European Commission counterpart Michel Barnier were

scheduled to kick off at 1700 local (1500 GMT).

     Publication was accompanied by two technical notes expanding on the UK's

position on nuclear material and radioactive waste.

     The flurry of documents is a sign that the country is keen to be seen as

better prepared for this round of talks than the July's negotiations, where the

EU side expressed frustration on the lack of positions put forward as the basis

for talks.

     Monday's clarification request specifically relates to the EU's Protocol 7,

referring to the privileges and immunities granted to MEPs and other EU staff

"as are necessary for the performance of their tasks".

     The UK says it is seeking more information from the other side on how

various staff and institutions will be impacted by the UK's withdrawal from

Protocol 7, necessary as part of its overall withdrawal from the bloc.

     For one, Britain is seeking assurances that its permanent representation in

Brussels can "enjoy the same diplomatic privileges and immunities as a permanent

mission of a Member State", according to the document.

     At the same time, Britain asked the EU to provide clarity on whether

laissez-passer - the travel documents which can be supplied to Union employees

to ease movement between member states - need only be respected in future only

for official business or "in respect of all members and servants of the

institutions of the Union to whom they are issued".

     Given that the UK will no longer have any MEPs, they are also seeking

clarification on "how and why" privileges and immunity of MEPs should continue

to apply after Brexit.

     Barnier is unlikely to comment on the requests during the official launch

of talks later on Monday, but the pressure will be on the EU to respond before

Thursday, when this round of talks wraps up.

--MNI Brussels Bureau; +44 203-865-3851; email: tara.oakes@marketnews.com

--MNI Paris Bureau; tel: +33 1-42-71-55-41; email: jack.duffy@marketnews.com

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