During a security conference in Munich on Saturday 17 February, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she was in favour of a security partnership with the EU after 2019.
May gave assurances that the UK could respect the requirements of the European Court of Justice when cooperating with EU agencies dealing with security and the fight against terrorism.
"This cannot be a time when any of us allow competition between partners, rigid institutional restrictions or deep-seated ideology to inhibit our cooperation and jeopardise the security of our citizens", she said. In May's view, the Europeans and British cannot put this discussion off, but urgently need to establish a treaty to protect all European citizens. "We must do whatever is most practical and pragmatic in ensuring our collective security", she said.
May added that the end of the UK's participation in Europol or the European arrest warrant would seriously hamper work against terrorism and organised crime.
She said there are already other areas, like trade and strategic relations between the EU and third countries, and that there is "no legal or operational reason" why such an agreement could not be reached on security.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who was also at the conference in Munich, gave assurances that the Europeans were "not at war" with London and that they wanted to maintain "this security alliance, the security bridge" with the UK, as reported by French news agency, AFP. But he said a future security relationship should not be mixed up with other Brexit-related trade issues, arguing that the Europeans should not be held hostage on security. This was a warning that has previously been given by the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.
On Monday 19 February, European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas reiterated the Commission's readiness to work with London on these security issues. But in the immediate future, the Commission is focusing on talks on the post-Brexit transition phase and on the finalisation of the text of the withdrawal agreement. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)