About the Results of the Second Round of Negotiations on Brexit

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© 25.03.2018,  Tatiyana Andreeva

 

photo: Bankenverband // www.flickr.com/photos/bankenverband

An EU summit was held in Brussels on March 22-23, 2018. During the event all 27 EU member states approved the terms of a Brexit transition deal without any delay or objections. The agreement finalized the UK-EU negotiations on the implementation of Brexit. The EU and Britain considered this round to be successful, though Britain had to make some concessions.

According to the reached agreements the transition period will begin on March 29, 2019 and last until December 31, 2020.

The deal guarantees the full free movement rights for EU citizens and the jurisdiction of EU laws and the European Court of Justice in the UK during the transition period until December 31, 2020. While making steps to leave the single market and customs union during this period Britain will still be under all the obligations of an EU member state, though without its EU voting rights. These concessions were made in the interest of British and foreign business in order to slow down mainly the withdrawal of foreign firms from the UK.

During the negotiations some British politicians could not hide their indignation at the possibility of such concessions. But British and foreign businesses called them a «victory of common sense», designed to protect high living standards and jobs, as well as economic growth of the country.

The greatest anger within British parliament and among the Scottish fishery was sparked by the agreements that preserve EU’s fishing quotas for EU member states in the UK’s fishing waters right up to the end of the year 2020.

To pacify British public and fishermen Theresa May ordered to allocate the sum of £12,700,000 to the Defence Ministry in order to set up the Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron. It would consist of 5 vessels equipped with various armaments and helipads to patrol the UK’s fishing zone for 320 days within a year after Brexit and to protect it from illegal fishing.

In order to avoid tough border control between Ireland and Northern Ireland and to retain the membership of the latter in the single market and customs union Britain accepted the EU clause about establishment of backstops on the Irish border until another solution emerged. It is still uncertain how the work of the backstops will be regulated. Theresa May hopes that the way to keep Northern Ireland within the EU’s customs union without resorting the backstops will be found during the future trade negotiations. During the transition period Britain is going to adhere the EU’s regulations and agreements, necessary to ensure the cooperation between Northern and Southern parts of the island and the development of its economy. The negotiations between the UK, Spain and the EU about future status of Gibraltar will be held after Brexit.

Even before the agreement on the transition period, the Office for Budget Responsibility unveiled the cost of Brexit, which amounts to £37,100,000,000. The sum will be paid to the EU in 45 years until the year 2064.

On the whole Brexit negotiations proved more successful for the EU than for the UK. The Union managed to persuade Britain to abandon some of its «red lines». Northern Ireland’s status has remained the most challenging problem, and the EU is in the lead on it. The EU uses the formulas «nothing is agreed until everything is agreed» as a leverage over the UK. It makes the implementation of the future trade deal regulations and a post-Brexit European security deal dependent on the UK’s observing the Brexit deal and especially on following the agreements on the open border with Ireland.

The EU’s concession was that during the transition period Britain would be allowed to negotiate and make trade agreements with the non-EU member states, in order to start its implementation immediately after end of the transition period – from January 1, 2021.

In principle, both parties are determined to work constructively and quickly. The next round, which will begin in late March and last until late October 2018, will deal with the EU-UK trade relationship after Brexit. The issues of the future round of negotiations will be the cooperation on counteraction of all sorts of crimes, ensuring European security and coordinating foreign policy between the UK and the EU.

Because the Brexit agreement has to be ratified by all EU member states’ parliaments (including British one) before it comes into effect according to the timetable made by the British Prime Minister - in March 2019 – the UK and the EU are keen to finish negotiations in autumn 2018.

The UK’s approach to follow as close as possible EU’s legislation in trade dealings has already caused dissatisfaction in the USA – the main ally of Britain. However in January 2018 the USA, Australia and Canada have shown their willingness to support Britain after Brexit by concluding trade agreements with it.

Note:

Walter S. Cod War! Gavin Williamson readies the gunboats to protect British fish after Brexit. The Daily Telegraph, 23 March 2018.
Campbell J. Barnier upbeat on Brexit border backstop. 20.03.2018. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-43478881
Stone J. Uk pulled into talks with Spain and EU about Gibraltar status after Brexit. The Independent, 22 March 2018.
Merrick R., Watts J. UK will be paying Brexit “divorce bill” until 2064, says Treasury watchdog. The Independent, 14 March 2018.


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