EU – UK Post-Brexit negotiations will start tomorrow
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Brexit negotiations will begin as early as Monday — little more than 48 hours after Britain’s historic departure from the European Union — as the clock begins ticking on the 11-month transition period.
“It’s time now to start looking forward,” EU negotiator Michel Barnier said on Saturday. “On Monday I will present a draft mandate for the negotiations with the UK.”
It comes as British PM Boris Johnson prepared for a speech on the same day that will set out his position on post-Brexit relations. Even as smoke was still clearing from fireworks marking the end of Britain’s 47-year EU membership, both sides sought to establish their lines of negotiation ahead of what is likely to be a frantic process.
The two parties aim to establish an ambitious future partnership, which reflects the political and geographical proximity and economic inter-dependence between the EU and the United Kingdom.
This future partnership will include provisions of direct interest to citizens and businesses in areas such as transport, industrial supply chains, agricultural products, fisheries, services, data protection, provisions for a level playing field, mobility of citizens, the fight against crime, money laundering and terrorism, foreign and security policy.
The Political Declaration which accompanies the Withdrawal Agreement, sets the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
It establishes the parameters of an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership covering trade, economic cooperation and security.
The economic partnership will have a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement at its core and will cover areas of cooperation such as transport, energy, climate, environment and fisheries. The Declaration also states that the future relationship must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field.
With a view to Europe’s security and the safety of citizens, the future security partnership would cover both law enforcement and criminal justice, as well as foreign policy, security and defence and other areas of cooperation.
The Political Declaration also foresees that this partnership should be embedded in an overall governance framework, with appropriate mechanisms for enforcement and dispute settlement.
The European Commission and representatives of the 27 EU Member States met throughout January 2020 for preparatory discussions on the future partnership. These covered all major areas as indicated in the Political Declaration.
