Closing a two-year long initiative on the Brexit negotiations, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly welcomed the generally high level of transparency, and urged the Commission and Council to maintain these standards in any future relationship negotiations.

Ms O’Reilly is due to meet the EU’s Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, this afternoon in Strasbourg.

Positive steps by the Commission’s Brexit Taskforce include the publication of over 100 negotiating documents, making Mr Barnier’s calendar publicly available, and meeting only registered lobbyists. The Taskforce worked through a transparent framework set by the European Council.

Given the major implications of Brexit for citizens and for businesses, the Ombudsman had written to the Commission before Article 50 was invoked to suggest practical transparency measures.

The Ombudsman monitored how the public was able to follow the withdrawal talks, making further transparency suggestions, and ho