Brexit

Barnier rejects UK’s post-Brexit proposals for City of London

Barnier said the UK’s requests would severely limit EU autonomy, and argued that because the UK has chosen to leave the EU's single market, ‘things have to change’

The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier
The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier Photo: Getty Images

Michel Barnier, Europe’s top Brexit negotiator, has dismissed the UK’s bid to preserve the rights of London’s financial district after it leaves the Europe Union.

In a video address on 30 June, Barnier said the UK was seeking to “go much further” than simply avoiding discrimination for its firms, and its proposals would “severely limit” the autonomy of EU regulators and decision-makers. “I will be blunt: its proposals are unacceptable,” said Barnier.

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