Speaking on twitter, Michel Barnier’s advisor on the Brexit negotiations, Stefaan de Rynck, downplayed the fact that the EU had toughened up its position on the talks about the transition period requested by London.
According to the Financial Times, which had obtained a document about the guidelines that will be adopted at the end of the month on this subject, London would have to fully apply the principle of free movement until the beginning of 2021 and respect the demands revised upwards on the external trade agreements and fishing rights.
This will involve extending the rights to free movement and the rights to a special status for all European citizens arriving in the United Kingdom before the last day of the transition that has been set for the end of 2020. It will so be necessary to obtain an EU "authorisation" to continue to benefit from EU trade agreements.
The advisor to the chief EU negotiator said that these guidelines were based on what had been decided in December by the heads of state and government. He also indicated that the transition period covered all of the European acquis. The report on 8 December agreed by Mr Juncker and Theresa May also mentioned possible adaptations to the transition period. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)