Didier Seeuws, a one-time chief of staff to former European council president Herman Van Rompuy, will lead a “Brexit taskforce” of EU negotiators.



A veteran Belgian diplomat with long experience of complex EU negotiations, Seeuws, 50, is described as exceptionally hard-working and combining an impressive grasp of technical detail with considerable political savvy.

A keen cyclist, he is currently director of transport, telecommunications and energy at the European council but has also served as foreign affairs spokesman for the Belgian government and spokesman for former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, who is now an MEP.

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Seeuws was also Belgium’s deputy ambassador to the EU and is credited with negotiating a breakthrough on the European patent system, an issue that had been deadlocked for more than 30 years.

“He is very good at plunging into the most technical issues, but he always understands the political dynamic,” one former colleague said, adding that he doubted Seeuws would play hardball with the UK: “He understands the task will be very difficult, but he will certainly try to get a good compromise.”

La Libre Belgique newspaper described Seeuws as a “fine intellectual machine”, citing a Belgian source as saying he was “tactically very strong. He knows how to put himself in everyone’s shoes, and sees straight away what the chances are for a short or long-term agreement.”

Seeuws will reportedly manage the more delicate side of the talks, on the nature of Britain’s future relationship with the EU, while an “article 50 taskforce” set up and managed by the European commission will work on the more immediate, hands-on business of extricating the UK from the EU.

Negotiations can only get under way once Britain makes formal notification of its intention to leave the union, a task that David Cameron has said he is leaving to his successor, who expected to be appointed by October.

EU member states have urged London to ensure it happens far sooner, saying they are eager to avoid a lengthy period of uncertainty and a possible domino effect in more Eurosceptic member states.

