<p>Senior British cabinet ministers on Tuesday approved Britain's negotiating mandate for trade talks with the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said.</p>.<p>"It was a very smooth process to agree our approach, which will restore our economic and political independence," the spokesman told reporters.</p>.<p>The approach is based on existing free trade agreements between the EU and other countries, he said.</p>.<p>Johnson chaired the meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee.</p>.<p>In Brussels, EU ministers formally adopted Tuesday a joint negotiating mandate ahead of talks with Britain meant to define the future relationship with the former member state, several sources told AFP.</p>.<p>"We look forward to engaging with the EU constructively following the publication of their mandate," Johnson's spokesman said.</p>.<p>"The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure we restore our economic and political independence on January 1, 2021.</p>.<p>"At the end of this year, we will be leaving the single market and customs union and taking back control of our own laws and our own trade."</p>.<p>Britain's mandate will be published on Thursday. Talks with the EU will begin in Brussels on Monday and a second phase will take place in London later in March.</p>.<p>The negotiations cover trade, security and defence. They are designed to define future EU-UK ties following Britain's departure from the bloc on January 31.</p>.<p>Johnson was expected to welcome Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to his Downing Street office on Tuesday as part of his diplomatic efforts with EU leaders before the talks commence.</p>
<p>Senior British cabinet ministers on Tuesday approved Britain's negotiating mandate for trade talks with the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said.</p>.<p>"It was a very smooth process to agree our approach, which will restore our economic and political independence," the spokesman told reporters.</p>.<p>The approach is based on existing free trade agreements between the EU and other countries, he said.</p>.<p>Johnson chaired the meeting of senior ministers on his Brexit committee.</p>.<p>In Brussels, EU ministers formally adopted Tuesday a joint negotiating mandate ahead of talks with Britain meant to define the future relationship with the former member state, several sources told AFP.</p>.<p>"We look forward to engaging with the EU constructively following the publication of their mandate," Johnson's spokesman said.</p>.<p>"The UK's primary objective in the negotiations is to ensure we restore our economic and political independence on January 1, 2021.</p>.<p>"At the end of this year, we will be leaving the single market and customs union and taking back control of our own laws and our own trade."</p>.<p>Britain's mandate will be published on Thursday. Talks with the EU will begin in Brussels on Monday and a second phase will take place in London later in March.</p>.<p>The negotiations cover trade, security and defence. They are designed to define future EU-UK ties following Britain's departure from the bloc on January 31.</p>.<p>Johnson was expected to welcome Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz to his Downing Street office on Tuesday as part of his diplomatic efforts with EU leaders before the talks commence.</p>