Britain’s Finance Minister is to visit Lisbon on Friday to talk ‘Brexit’ with his counterpart, Mário CentenoLisbon is one of many capitals that British Finance Minister Philip Hammond is to drop in on during his European tour to discuss post-Brexit relations.
The British Finance Ministry said that in his target countries, Hammond will meet the Finance Minister and "high-level business delegations to discuss how to strengthen ties between our companies and citizens in the coming years."
Portugal is the last stopover of schedule that began in Oslo and Stockholm on Tuesday, The Hague today and Madrid on Thursday.
"I am taking the message to Europe that although we are leaving the European Union, the UK is still concerned about its relations with countries, citizens and companies with whom we share a close history and common values," said Hammond.
The ambition is to come to an agreement on "a new, deep and special partnership with the EU that will maintain our relationship and continue to grow strongly in the future."
Hammond’s European tour is part of an effort by the British government to clarify its position in the negotiations for a new trade agreement with the EU.
Back in London, Theresa May, Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, EU Exit Minister David Davis, Trade Minister Liam Fox, and Assistant Minister of State David Lidington have been lined up to make key Brexit speeches.
The series of ‘Route to Brexit’ speeches may outline some of the UK's objectives on her future relationship with Europe and aim to dispel the growing feeling that no one in government really knows what is going on.
