After meeting in camera on 5 February with Michel Barnier, EU negotiator for the future relationship with the United Kingdom, the European Parliament is preparing to vote on a resolution on these negotiations on 12 February in Strasbourg, which should formally take effect in early March.
In a draft resolution to be debated on the morning of Tuesday 11 February, MEPs set out their expectations regarding ‘a level playing field’, one of the most sensitive aspects of the forthcoming discussions.
Even if they do not take part in the negotiations, European elected representatives will, in the end, have to give their consent, as with all international agreements.
In this draft resolution, they are thus insisting on a level playing field and the need for the United Kingdom “to continue to respect and implement existing standards”.
Contrary to the mandate presented by Michel Barnier on 3 February, they are calling on the United Kingdom to aim for “dynamic alignment” with European rules (see EUROPE 12417/1).
The draft text also recalls that a comprehensive economic agreement is inseparable from a fisheries agreement. Parliament also believes that the Commission could take its own initiative to consider “quotas” and customs duties in certain sensitive sectors.
For their part, the national ambassadors held a first discussion on the draft mandate at the Committee of Permanent Representatives on 5 February. The ‘General Affairs’ Council will have to validate it on 25 February.
This first round was positive, with Member States relatively satisfied with the draft mandate, according to two sources.
The discussion focused at length on the level playing field, with some Member States keen to strengthen the text and to specify the areas in which they really want to ensure that this level playing field is ensured.
The countries most concerned by the fisheries negotiations, such as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, suggested that the text be made a little tougher, according to our two sources. In particular, these countries want a “material status quo”, a “relationship as close as we have today”, with “multi-year” negotiations, says one source, which the mandate does not currently specify.
With regard to the conditions of fair competition, some States will also want to include the concept of ‘dynamic alignment’ in the text.
A new version of the mandate could be sent back to the Twenty-Seven this Friday evening, and a new ambassadorial meeting will be held on 12 February.
Three million pre-registrations
The UK government announced on Thursday 6 February that it had received 3 million applications for pre-registration for residence status from the 3.2 million EU citizens on its soil. This status makes it possible to remain in place and retain one’s rights as they exist today after the end of the transition. It also opens up the possibility of receiving permanent resident status depending on certain criteria. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)