Michel Bernard Barnier (born 9 January 1951) is a French politician serving as the European Union's Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union since 2016.
He has served in several French cabinet positions including minister of foreign affairs from 2004 to 2005, minister of state for European affairs from 1995 to 1997 and minister of the environment and way of life from 1993 to 1995.
He served at European level as European Commissioner for Regional Policy (1999–2004) and European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services (2010–2014), and was vice president of the European People's Party (EPP) from 2010 to 2015.
Barnier was appointed minister for agriculture in the Government of France on 18 June 2007, stepping down on 7 June 2009 upon his election as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
He served as European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services under Barroso.
The European Commission appointed him as its chief negotiator in charge of the preparation and conduct of the negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).