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European Commission said on Wednesday it has decided to set up a Brexit "task force" (Article 50 Task Force) to carry out negotiations with Britain and restated London could have no access to Europe's single market if it restricts the free movement of people and goods after Brexit.
The Article 50 Task Force will be in charge of preparing and conducting the negotiations with Britain, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the European Union, a statement said.
"This new Task Force will be composed of the Commission's best and brightest," the Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said.
In his annual "State of the Union" speech delivered in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker has warned that Britain would not be able to have "a la carte" access to the EU's single market if it restricts free movements of persons and goods.
"Only those who accept the free movement of persons and goods can have unlimited access to the internal market. There can be no a la carte access to the Single market," he said.
Juncker also urged Britain to begin the secession process "as quickly as possible."
He has called for more unity among the remaining 27 member states after Brexit, saying that the EU is not in danger of splitting.
He said the EU still "does not have enough unity," adding that "the next 12 months are the crucial time to deliver."
As for the Task Force, it will be led by Michel Barnier, who was appointed by Juncker in July as Chief Negotiator in charge of those negotiations.
"Michel and his team will live up to this new challenge and help us to develop a new partnership with the United Kingdom after it will have left the European Union," Juncker said.
According to the Commission, Michel Barnier, as Chief Negotiator, will be ranked at the Director-General level and will take up his duties as of Oct. 1, in 2016.
In his speech, the EU executive also spoke of the refugee crisis, anti-terrorism, defense policy and climate change.
He has called for the EU to set up a defense headquarters in order to create a common military force.
Juncker also proposed doubling the EU's investment fund to 630 billion euros (708 billion U.S. dollars) and extending the plan for a further three years until 2020 in order to boost growth and jobs.
Juncker's speech comes two days before the 27 EU leaders meet for a summit without Britain in Bratislava aiming to draw up a future roadmap after Britain's decision to quit the EU.
(APD)
