The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier (Photo: VNA)

The EU wants negotiations to be divided into four-week cycles, each focusing on a key issue. Week one would involve political preparation, followed by a week where documents would be disclosed by both sides. The third week would see Barnier and the UK's Brexit secretary sitting down to talk, mainly in Brussels but also, potentially, in London. In the final week, Barnier would report on the results of the negotiations to the 27 member states and the European parliament.

At a summit in Brussels in April, 27 EU leaders approved a set of guidelines for Brexit negotiations with the UK.