The negotiating teams David Davis MP... Sir Tim Barrow... Phillip Rycroft Sarah Healey Robin Walker MP Steve Baker MP...

Transcription

1 Brexit Negotiators, November 2017

2 Contents Introduction The negotiating teams British negotiating team David Davis MP Sir Tim Barrow Phillip Rycroft Sarah Healey Robin Walker MP Steve Baker MP Catherine Webb Antony Phillipson EU negotiating team Michel Barnier Sabine Weyand Didier Seeuws Guy Verhofstadt Notable players not mentioned Britain EU Ranelagh Political Communications Find us on Find us on LinkedIn Tel:

3 Introduction The negotiating teams With the Brexit negotiations in full swing and dominating the headlines, it s important to get to know the key individuals on both sides in charge of the process, their roles, and how their past experiences may shape the negotiating strategies of both sides. The British team is represented by a healthy mix of youth and experience, while the European Union enjoys an excellent understanding of numerous policy issues across their multinational team. While only detailing the profiles of each team member, this brief should be helpful to anyone who seeks more information on who has responsibility for each task in the negotiations as well as what their primary motivations might be. Full British team: David Davis MP Secretary of State for Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) Sir Tim Barrow UK Ambassador to the EU Phillip Rycroft Permanent Secretary, DExEU Sarah Healey Director General, DExEU Robin Walker MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DExEU Steve Baker MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DExEU Catherine Webb Director of Market Access and Budget, DExEU Antony Phillipson Director of Trade and Partnerships, DExEU Full EU team: Michel Barnier European Commission Chief Brexit Negotiator Sabine Weyand European Commission Deputy Chief Negotiator Didier Seeuws Council Special Taskforce Chief Negotiator Guy Verhofstadt European Parliament Chief Negotiator on Brexit 2

4 British negotiating team David Davis MP Secretary of State, DExEU: David Davis is a former Conservative leadership candidate who, despite the presence of his party in Government since 2010, has not been in charge of his own department until now. Growing up on a South London council estate, Davis has recently developed a public profile as a champion of civil liberties, often finding himself in disagreement with then-home Secretary Theresa May. Before this however, and despite his support for leaving the European Union, Davis served as a government whip in John Major s pro-eu administration. During his time as a whip, he attempted to persuade rebel Tory MPs to support the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, an agreement which facilitated closer integration between EU member states. In recent years, Davis has been clear about his views on the EU and the UK s future role in it. His appointment as Brexit secretary is a clear attempt by Theresa May to appease the Eurosceptic wing of her party. Davis attitudes concerning British trade especially, alongside his reputation as a tough, uncompromising figure, stand to make him a hard but effective negotiator on behalf of the UK. However, Davis department was rocked in the summer of 2017 by the departure of two Ministers as well as his own Chief-of-Staff, who publically criticised the Secretary of State. Despite this setback, Davis has pressed on confidently as the head of the British negotiating team, but reportedly plans to step down in June 2019 once Britain s withdrawal has been formalised. Sir Tim Barrow UK Ambassador to the EU: The successor to Sir Ivan Rogers, who resigned in January 2017 after citing his dissatisfaction with the UK government s negotiation strategy, Sir Tim Barrow has experience of advocating the UK s position in difficult diplomatic situations, having worked as the UK s ambassador to Russia for 5 turbulent years before his most recent appointment. A career diplomat, Sir Tim joined the Foreign Office in 1986, working his way up to a senior position as the then- Foreign Secretary Robin Cook s Private Secretary. His appointment represents another tumultuous period in the Brexit negotiating process, with the resignation of his predecessor and Sir Tim s own appointment reportedly opposed by Oliver Robbins, the former Permanent Secretary to the Department for Exiting the EU, who has also since left his post. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his role, due to his recent experiences in Russia Sir Tim has a reputation as an accomplished, resilient ambassador who will add diplomatic weight to the British negotiating team. Sir Tim was responsible for handing over the letter of the UK s invocation of Article 50 of the European Union Treaty in March 2017, which began the process of withdrawal. 3

5 British negotiating team Phillip Rycroft Permanent Secretary, DExEU: Promoted following the departure of Oliver Robbins amid reports he was clashing with David Davis over the direction of negotiations, Phillip Rycroft is now the top civil servant in the Department for Exiting the EU. His role includes running the department, backing up the negotiating team and carrying out preparations for the implementation of Brexit. Rycroft joined the department from a position with the UK Governance Group, which was set up to ensure that Whitehall policy takes into account the responsibilities and preferences of devolved regions, and has been praised as collaborative by his former colleagues. With an open-mind, and experience working in Brussels alongside Nick Clegg, Rycroft s approach and knowledge will be valued by the British negotiating team as he plans for the realities of life for Britain outside the EU. Sarah Healey Director General, DExEU: As Director General of the Department for Exiting the EU, Sarah Healey represents the second-in-command (under Phillip Rycroft) of the civil service operation to implement Brexit. She has held the role since the Department s creation, and has previously been Director General at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Director for Private Pensions at the Department for Work and Pensions, as well as Director of Strategy and of Education funding at the Department for Education. Alongside her varied departmental roles, she has also led cross-government efforts on gender diversity in the civil service. With expertise already in a range of policy areas, she will be adding yet more experience in her new role supporting the negotiating team and helping to deliver Britain s exit from the EU. Robin Walker MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DExEU: As Remain and Leave supporters respectively, Robin Walker and Steve Baker have been appointed to the Department to support the work of David Davis, and in the case of Robin Walker, to provide some balance to a largely pro-leave negotiating team. Robin Walker joined Parliament in 2010 to represent Worcester, and has previously served on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee as well as serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Education. This junior role in DExEU is Walker s first Ministerial appointment and, as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, his role is to provide support to the Secretary of State, David Davis. 4

6 British negotiating team Steve Baker MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DExEU Steve Baker was also elected in 2010, representing Wycombe. A former RAF flight lieutenant, Baker has campaigned for banking reform and has been rated one of the Conservatives 10 most rebellious MPs. In his new role he will be expected to toe the party line, but as a Leave supporter he will likely relish the opportunity to help the negotiating team, having previously described the EU as an obstacle to world peace. Catherine Webb Director of Market Access and Budget, DExEU Prior to joining the British negotiating team, Catherine Webb served in the Cabinet Office as Director of EU Internal Issues, and was previously a trade and economic policy expert in the Foreign Office. As someone who is relatively unknown to the media, her role will likely come under greater scrutiny when negotiations progress to discussions on a future trade deal. Antony Phillipson Director of Trade and Partnerships, DExEU Joining the negotiating team from a position with the Global Issues Secretariat Cabinet Office is Antony Phillipson, an experienced diplomat who began his career at the Department of Trade and Industry. As well as his positions in government departments, gaining a first-hand experience of an array of policy issues including foreign affairs and international commerce, Phillipson has served as a Global Issues Counsellor in the Washington Embassy and as the High Commissioner to Singapore. These senior positions will have provided an excellent knowledge of global issues and relations, and will be invaluable to his new role of deciding the nature of the trade deals created by Brexit especially so if Britain leaves the single market. 5

7 EU negotiating team Michel Barnier European Commission Chief Brexit Negotiator Serving as the Chief Negotiator on behalf of the European Commission and therefore David Davis opposite number, Michel Barnier is a seasoned diplomat with a huge amount of experience in European politics. He was appointed to the position officially by Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU Commission President, in December Barnier s career began in various positions for Gaullist ministers in France in the 1970s, before making his name by organising the 1992 Winter Olympics. After serving as France s Europe minister and briefly Foreign minister, he moved into European positions. It was in his European roles where Barnier gained most of his notoriety in Britain. Working as the Single Market Commissioner from 2010 to 2014, he had oversight of the City of London after the financial crisis and was responsible for implementing a number of controversial reforms of the financial sector. These included new EU regulations on bank capital reserves and bankers bonuses, which were not warmly welcomed by the City, and as a result his appointment as Chief Negotiator was badly received by the UK press. An individual with a reputation for being tough and pragmatic, having previously described the UK s stance as disturbing, he is a difficult match for David Davis and the rest of the British team. So far he has been firm in his stance over the EU s expectations, and this is unlikely to change as time goes on. Sabine Weyand European Commission Deputy Chief Negotiator Appointed as Deputy Chief Negotiator under Michel Barnier, Sabine Weyand also brings to the negotiations a huge amount of experience in European politics. She studied for a year at the University of Cambridge in the 1980s, but now sits on the other side of the table to the country in which she used to live. From 1994 onwards, Weyand has worked for the EU in a variety of positions, and the German national has more than 23 years experience in trade relations as well as climate policy. She was number 8 in a politico.eu list of the most influential women in Brussels, and has been described as a Commission problem-solver. As a previous Director of the European Commission s Secretariat-General, she was involved in TTIP and CETA discussions, and will bring this background in negotiating trade agreements to the Brexit talks. 6

8 EU negotiating team Didier Seeuws Council Special Taskforce Chief Negotiator While Barnier and Weyand have been taking the lead on substantive parts of the negotiations, reflecting the role of the Commission in comparison to the European Council which sets the strategic direction, Didier Seeuws will be responsible for keeping the remaining 27 member states content with the process and shaping the EU s long term relationship with the UK. A Belgian diplomat and former Chief of Staff to previous Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Seeuws has previously worked in Washington on economic and trade affairs and earned respect from all quarters for his conciliatory role during the Greek debt crisis. Seeuws appointment raised concerns amongst those at the Commission, including Martin Selmayr, Jean-Claude Juncker s Chief of Staff. They maintained that the Council (acting on behalf of member states) was not only attempting to grab the reins of the negotiations, but giving the UK gentler treatment and setting a precedent for other countries who may wish to leave the Union. Barnier s selection to head the Commission team was a response to this, and so far there has been little to indicate that the EU s negotiating team has been soft on Britain. However, with previous experience negotiating the end of a 30-year deadlock on the European patent system, Seeuws, who has a reputation of significant ability and technical knowledge, may well be looked to frequently at times of stalemate. Guy Verhofstadt European Parliament Chief Negotiator on Brexit Guy Verhofstadt was chosen to represent the European Parliament in the Brexit negotiations, although so far his influence over the substantive elements of the process has been limited. Known for his charismatic delivery and often controversial public statements, Verhofstadt has been and will continue to be outspoken over Brexit issues. For example, Verhofstadt has previously described Brexit as a dictatorship of the majority and a waste of time and energy. A Member of Parliament for Belgium since 1978 and Prime Minister between 1999 and 2008, he is an experienced leader. He has developed his EU pedigree serving as an MEP since He is currently the leader of the centrist ALDE group of liberal MEPs. A passionate federalist, Verhofstadt s appointment was criticised by his Eurosceptic parliamentary colleagues, and, while he has lacked power over deciding the nature of Brexit (with most control exercised by Barnier and Weyand), he has been critical of aspects of the British approach throughout the negotiations. 7

9 Notable players not mentioned While the individuals listed above comprise the primary negotiating teams, there are several individuals who wield influence over Brexit from outside the official process. This section will briefly cover those individuals as well as their impact on the process of withdrawal: Britain: Theresa May MP The British Prime Minister has been an important figure throughout the process, setting the British agenda and attending meetings with European leaders to facilitate further progress in the talks. However, the split in her party domestically is harming her attempts to present the image of a united front at home. Liam Fox MP & Boris Johnson MP The Secretary of State for International Trade and Foreign Secretary respectively. Both are Leave supporters and have been vocal about the role of the UK in a post-eu era. The two Secretaries of State have provided commentary on the process and continue to promote the interests of Britain overseas. As Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox s role will become more important should it be decided that Britain will be exiting the customs union. Jeremy Corbyn MP & Sir Keir Starmer MP The Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Secretary for DExEU respectively. The two Labour figures have attempted to influence the process by outlining Labour s support of a transition deal and providing commentary and scrutiny on the progress of negotiations. Corbyn has also met EU leaders to outline his alternative approach should Labour come into power during the negotiations. EU: Jean-Claude Juncker The EU Commission Chief. While not directly part of the negotiating team, Juncker has been vocal about the state of proceedings and met Theresa May to encourage the development of the negotiations. He was also responsible for the appointment of Barnier as Chief Negotiator. Donald Tusk As the Head of European Council, which represents the interests of member states, Tusk has used his role to unite the two distinct groups and encourage progress, while also suggesting that the process is reversible even at this stage. Emmanuel Macron & Angela Merkel As leaders of the 2 most authoritative EU countries, Macron and Merkel have clear influence over how the split is portrayed. Recently, Merkel has been positive about the chances of reaching a deal, while Macron has been more critical, accusing the UK of bluffing over its no deal claims. Merkel s difficulty in forming a working coalition may distract her from the process in the future, however. 8

10 This briefing was compiled by Ranelagh Political Communications. Ranelagh is a public affairs and policy development consultancy. We work throughout the UK and in Europe, offering unrivalled political expertise at the national, regional and local levels. We combine keen political intelligence with a comprehensive understanding of each client's business. This makes our strategic counsel tailored, targeted and accurate. It makes our advocacy effective. If you want more details on any of the issues contained within this briefing, or more information about the work of Ranelagh Political Communications, contact Anna Wolffe on or anna.wolffe@ranelaghuk.com. Ranelagh Political Communications Find us on Find us on LinkedIn Tel: