Negotiating Brexit: the views of the EU27

While the 27 member states are likely to remain united in their approach to the Brexit negotiations, it is essential for the UK to understand the differences in their views. 

This paper argues that the Government must work with the UK’s allies in the EU to make the case for the future relationship it wants. But any attempt to ‘divide and conquer’ will backfire.  

To strengthen the UK’s alliances, the Government needs to show that it understands the individual interests of each member state. The paper looks at the trade, migration and domestic political priorities of each of the 27. It finds there are some clear areas of convergence between UK and member states’ interests which the UK can use to build support, and assesses how the member states will balance these interests against the other issues – domestic and international – taking up their time.