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Brexit: UK to withdraw officials from EU meetings from September 1, Boris Johnson government announces

Boris Johnson will pull British officials and ministers out of most EU decision-making meetings from September as the government gears up for the Brexit deadline.

Civil servants and ministers will now only attend EU meetings where the UK has a significant national interest in the outcome of discussions, such as on security.

The move comes after the prime minister vowed to "unshackle" diplomats in Brussels to employ their talents elsewhere, as Whitehall braces for a looming no-deal Brexit.

Announcing the plans, the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay said: “An incredible amount of time and effort goes into EU meetings with attendance just the tip of the iceberg.

"Our diligent, world-class officials also spend many hours preparing for them whether in reading the necessary papers or working on briefings.

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“From now on we will only go to the meetings that really matter, reducing attendance by over half and saving hundreds of hours.

"This will free up time for ministers and their officials to get on with preparing for our departure on 31 October and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.”

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