By Prarthana Mitra
European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and United Kingdom’s Brexit secretary David Davis announced they have reached a tentative agreement to ensure an orderly transition after the bloc’s departure from the union.
Addressing a news conference in Brussels, the two statesmen said they were positive about a prospective international accord for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, especially with regard to citizen’s rights to migrate freely in the EU countries, and financial issues dealing with fishing policies. The negotiators called it a “decisive step”, which will enable the UK to avoid any unforeseen consequences of an abrupt departure.
Today Secretary of State, @DavidDavisMP spoke about our agreement on an implementation period with the #EU.
You can read his full statement here ➡️ https://t.co/Y9wv1LgP3P pic.twitter.com/I7pg6RktsS
— Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) March 19, 2018
Steps towards a smooth UK withdrawal
During the press conference, Barnier warned, that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” referring to the fact that no legal deal has been signed yet. However, he and his British counterpart appeared to have arrived at a conclusion on various crucial points, including the transitional period which is started to last from Brexit day on 29 March 2019 to 31 December 2020. Additionally, the negotiators also agreed that EU citizens arriving in the UK will have the same rights and guarantees as those who arrived before Brexit.
Other points of agreement included that during the transition period, the UK will preserve the benefits of the single market and customs union, and be able to sign and ratify its own trade agreements. The negotiators also agreed to set up a joint UK-EU committee which will ensure that the UK’s voice is heard.
The Irish bone of contention
The accord, however, had been called into doubt because of the impasse over the Irish border and may ultimately see Ireland remaining a part of EU’s economic sanctions, single market and customs union— potentially isolating it from the UK. Dublin has been seeking assurances over leaving the northern frontier open after Brexit, despite the UK’s stated intention to reject this arrangement. At the end of this meet, however, Barnier and Davis have agreed to go ahead with the “backstop” solution, in the absence of viable close frontier policies.
Questions also remain over the role of the European Court of Justice in the UK’s affairs in the future.
Looking ahead
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that progress has been made with EU negotiations and businesses and citizens will have an “implementation period” which will allow for a “smooth Brexit” and enable trade on the “same terms as now until 2020.”
The negotiations have garnered diverse reactions from all corners. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is unhappy with acquiescing fishing rights to the EU until 2020. Labour MP Chuka Umuna remarked in an interview with EuroNews she thinks Brexiters have been “prepared to compromise and surrender on almost every single point.” She added she thinks the government has “capitulated” on the divorce bill, primacy of European law, freedom of movement and on fisheries.
“We should be in no doubt that this will be the shape of things to come in the negotiations over the future relationship,” she added in the interview.
Barnier concluded the preliminary discussions on a note of optimism by saying member states of the EU now have the responsibility to assess the progress that has been made as they “adopt the guidelines at the end of the week, which will enable us to start the discussions on future relations with the United Kingdom.”
"On the EU side, it's now up to Member States to assess the progress made, when they adopt guidelines at the end of the week, which will enable us to start the discussions on future relations with the United Kingdom" @MichelBarnier ahead of #EUCO #Brexit https://t.co/R2GJtRodJy
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 19, 2018
European Union leaders are poised to meet later this week, to sign off on a mutually agreed upon accord for Britain’s withdrawal.
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