Britain’s future relationship with the European Union was likely top of the agenda as Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to Downing Street.
Thirty-three-year-old Kurz – the world’s youngest head of government – traveled to London less than a month after Britain sealed its departure from the EU, but with negotiations on their future relationship set to start on Monday (March 2).
A spokesperson for Johnson confirmed earlier on Tuesday that senior British ministers have come to an agreement on the government’s negotiating mandate for the talks.
European Union member states likewise said they had adopted a negotiating mandate for the EU’s executive European Commission.
The bloc is expected to say Britain must uphold EU climate change targets and environmental standards after the post-Brexit transition period, which is due to end on December 31, 2020.
Downing Street has suggested the EU is seeking to impose onerous commitments on Britain that other neighbouring trade partners have not sought to apply to each other.