Chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said that the current situation of citizens who live in the two UK military bases in Cyprus must be maintained.

‘On Cyprus, we do need to find specific solutions to maintain the current situation of citizens affected by life around the two military bases’, he said in his closing statements before the EP Plenary session in Strasbourg, where the state of play of the negotiations with the United Kingdom was discussed.

Barnier pointed out that the negotiations are ‘difficult, very tough’, and the issues are ‘extremely complicated’ because the consequences of Brexit are ‘very serious’.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament adopted its resolution on Brexit, in which it notes that sufficient progress has been achieved in the negotiations.

‘This is an important step forward and will allow us to move to the second phase’ its President, Antonio Tajani has said.

He added that ‘while I am optimistic as far as the second phase is concerned, we have to ensure that the joint report presented last week is fully and faithfully translated into the wording of the Exit Treaty. No discussions on future relations will take place if the principles contained are not implemented’.

He pointed out that achieving ‘sufficient progress’ does not mean that all problems have been solved either.

‘The resolution passed today details our latest concerns. We will closely follow, in particular, issues concerning citizens’ rights – including the administrative procedure established in the UK to protect their special status – and the solution proposed for the Northern Ireland issue’ he concluded.