+++ Brexit +++
The future EU-UK relationship has been set out
Brexit – suspense remains!
by Alexa Keinert, Editor, The European – Security and Defence Union, Berlin
T
he Brexit negotiations are now, finally, in the final round. Four months before the official exit date, the British and EU negotiators came to terms with a draft agreement1 on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 14 November 2018 and published a political declaration2 on the future relationship between the two parties on 22 November 2018. This much awaited declaration is a non-binding document outlining the future political and economic relationship between the UK and EU. With regard to trade politics, Theresa May commented that “the EU said that the choice was binary – Norway or Canada. The Political Declaration recognises that there is a spectrum, with the extent of our commitments taken into account in deciding the level of checks and controls.” Both parties stressed that they are determinate to avoid a backstop, and they envision establishing the future relationship, after a 20-month transition phase, on 1st January 2021. With regard to security and defence, the political declaration includes a new security partnership, in which the UK and EU will work closely together in defence and cyber security as well as tackling crime and terrorism. However, other policy areas such as access to UK fishing waters and the question of Gibraltar remain highly contested. Following the special European Council Summit on Sunday 25 November 2018, where the 27 EU heads of state and government agreed on the two documents, all eyes will turn to the House of Commons and the European Parliament. The elected representatives will have the final say on the withdrawal agreement and the future relationship. In the House
A reason to celebrate? Theresa May and Donald Tusk have agreed on the Political Declaration, but this political thriller isn’t over yet. photo: © European Union
of Commons, Theresa May faces opposition within her own party, and MEPs also announced that they will not simply rubber-stamp those documents. A vote in the House of Commons is expected in early December. With regard to the transition phase stipulated in the declaration, EC negotiator Michel Barnier said that “we still need to determine the internal procedure of the Union for agreeing to extend the transition.” This being said, he assured that “globally speaking, this deal is fair and balanced”.
1 web: https://bit.ly/2B7aho2 2 web: https://bit.ly/2DE70y8
2018 VOLUME 28 (2-2017): CBRN risks and threats “CBRN risks are becoming aggravating factors that can paralyze populations, critical infrastructures and supply.”
VOLUME 29 (1-2018): How to cope with North Korea
VOLUME 30 (2-2018): Climate change and security
“Maintenance of the NPT Regime should be the primary objective of the containment strategy.”
“We are not only looking to 2030 – it is part of our vision to make the EU a true low carbon economy by 2050.”
Helga Schmid, Director General, External Action
Hideshi Tokuchi, Senior Fellow, National Graduate
Mauro Petriccione, Director General, DG Climate
Service, Brussels
Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo
Action, EC, Brussels
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