European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and the new British minister responsible for the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, Dominic Raab, examined the state of the Brexit talks on Thursday 26 July, before the talks resume in mid-August.
The two politicians stressed the positive in a new week of talks, along with the complex issues still hanging such as the 'backstop' on the question of the UK’s border in Northern Ireland with Ireland, and the UK’s view of customs union to respond to this issue.
Among the areas of progress, Michel Barnier said that maritime security relations with the EU could be extended because the UK had given new guarantees of respect of fundamental right via its remaining as a party the European Convention on Human Rights (see EUROPE 12067).
This guarantee opens the door to the more extended cooperation developed in terms of the exchange of data about air passengers (PNR), DNA or information about vehicles (data covered by the Prüm decision). Cooperation may also be closer in extradition procedures, added the EU's negotiator.
Michel Barnier admitted, however, that in terms of future economic relations, not surprisingly it is more difficult to find a middle ground.
Dominic stressed the British government’s desire to settle the remaining issues and its work now consists of doing three things: - (1) concluding the withdrawal agreement, the minister citing progress on agreement governance; - (2) concluding the protocol on Ireland in the framework of future bilateral relations, as London constantly demands. Raab says application of the backstop will necessarily be limited in time while awaiting the solution introduced within the parameters of future relations; - (3) working to establish the new EU-UK relations which, the minister said, would be based in part on a free-trade zone for goods applying common EU standards and other rules for services, as set out in the British White Book of 12 July (see EUROPE 12061).
The White Book and the proposals for customs arrangements have yet to win over the EU.
Michel Barnier pointed out that the EU had no opposition in principle to a customs solution going beyond the safety net for Northern Ireland and applying to all of the United Kingdom.
But questions remain open, such as the integrity of Customs Union and other European policies. The system must also be doable and not create an overload for Europeans, as Michel Barnier had already pointed out on 20 July. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)