The 27 EU heads of state and/or government adopted guidelines on Friday 23 March on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom after the post-Brexit transition period (see EUROPE 11985). They also approved the terms of this transition period, which will run from 29 March 2019 to the end of 2020 (see EUROPE 11984), and endorsed the progress made thus far in the UK’s withdrawal agreement, particularly on the issue of citizens’ rights and the financial settlement.
They called, however, for caution and made clear that, in the absence of a viable solution for the island of Ireland, it would not be possible to approve the negotiations as a whole. Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, they stated clearly in the conclusions they adopted on Friday.
The leaders did welcome the “written assurances” given by UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Ireland and Northern Ireland.
London has agreed that, as a backstop solution, Northern Ireland would remain in regulatory alignment with the European Union in order to avoid the return of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
European Council President Donald Tusk said that the 27 would evaluate the progress on the issue of Ireland in June.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also said he hoped a solution would be found by June, and that that was his country’s goal. But it is in October that the negotiations as a whole will be appraised, he said.
Technical discussions on the issue of Ireland will begin in Brussels next week between the parties involved. What is hoped is that London will be able to offer “alternative options” that will meet the same objective of avoiding a hard border.
European leaders also called for efforts to continue on the territorial application of the agreement, “notably as regards Gibraltar”, thus taking up the Spanish demands on this matter. Madrid wants to continue talks on areas of interest, such as transport and taxation.
On future relations, May spoke of a “new dynamic in the negotiations”, promising the commitment of her country to finding operational solutions for Ireland. She also repeated that a good free-trade agreement would be beneficial for both parties.
Still regretting the prospect of Brexit, Merkel stated that the 27 would not allow themselves to be divided in the second phase of negotiations that are opening. The “guiding star” for the EU is “the integrity of the single market”, said Macron.
The guidelines can be found at: https://bit.ly/2ue8WKz. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with the editorial team)