EU Commission Sets Up 'Article 50 Task Force' to Negotiate Brexit With UK

The European Commission decided to set up a Task Force for the preparation and conduct of the negotiations with the United Kingdom on the country's departure from the European Union under Article 50 of the TEU ("Article 50 Task Force").

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The European Commission on Wednesday established the "Article 50 Task Force" led by Chief Negotiator for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom Michel Barnier to negotiate conditions of the United Kingdom's departure from the bloc, according to the press release.

"Today [September 14], the Commission decided to set up a Task Force for the preparation and conduct of the negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the TEU ("Article 50 Task Force"). This follows the appointment, on 27 July 2016, by President Juncker of Michel Barnier as Chief Negotiator in charge of those negotiations and of the new Task Force," the press release read.

Simultaneously, Sabine Weyand, currently Deputy Director-General in the Commission's trade department (DG TRADE), was appointed as Deputy Chief Negotiator as of October 1.

On June 23, the United Kingdom held a referendum to determine whether or not the country should leave the European Union. According to the final results, 51.9 percent of voters, or 17.4 million people, decided to support Brexit, while about 16.1 million opposed it.