The European Affairs Ministers of the Twenty-Seven adopted as expected on Tuesday 25 February in Brussels the Commission's negotiating mandate to negotiate the future relationship with the United Kingdom from the beginning of March.
Michel Barnier announced at the end of the meeting that the first round of discussions with London will take place in Brussels on Monday 2 March, and will last until Thursday 5 March. A second round will take place later in March, in London. The British Government, for its part, also adopted its negotiating mandate on 25 February and will present the broad outlines on 27 February.
This mandate of the Twenty-Seven "commits the Commission team to this new and extraordinary negotiation with the United Kingdom", commented the EU chief negotiator. "We are ready to start these negotiations" and, in this mandate, "the EU maintains its level of demand and ambition" by adhering to both the European Council guidelines adopted since 2017 and the political declaration adopted last October and also signed by the British leader "himself".
These negotiating directives, which have changed little since Michel Barnier's presentation of the mandate on 3 February (see EUROPE 12417/1), set the framework for the discussions on the economic partnership, including the free trade agreement and the fisheries agreement - inseparable for the EU - the internal and external security partnership and, finally, the pillar of the general governance of this future relationship.
After the adoption of this mandate by the national ambassadors the day before (see EUROPE 12432/1), there was little suspense about the course of the meeting of European ministers. They adopted this text in a very short time, barely a minute. But the meeting was an opportunity for many delegations and the negotiator to recall the priority they will give in the coming weeks to a level playing field in all areas covered by the partnership, be it state aid, environmental or social standards.
On this point, the mandate given to the Commission does not at any point speak of dynamic alignment with EU rules, but the wish for "regulatory coherence", as expressed by Michel Barnier on 3 February, is being granted: the UK will be asked to ensure standards equivalent in time to those of the EU and EU standards will have to be considered as "reference points", the text states.
For the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Amélie de Montchalin, as she reminded us again during a press briefing at the end of the Council, this stage in the adoption of the mandate is important in that it sets "the unity of Europeans". Furthermore, the text consolidates some key principles in that it allows for "a good link between the subjects of the trade agreement, fisheries, a level playing field and governance”. On fisheries, the mandate emphasises the continuity of reciprocal access to waters "under known conditions" and allows for the retention of "allocation keys", the Minister noted.
Initial concerns about the implementation of the Irish protocol
But the Minister expressed "concerns" after recent statements by the new British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, assuring that there would be no borders in Northern Ireland, implying that there would be no controls, contrary to the Northern Ireland Protocol under the withdrawal agreement that came into force on 1 February.
There will be "controls, whatever the agreement", the Frenchwoman reacted.
For his part, Michel Barnier said he would be pleased to meet the new British leader, but "in the meantime, I will be happy if he takes the time to read the text of the withdrawal agreement and see the commitments made". For Michel Barnier, vigilance is called for on this Irish protocol, because Mr Lewis' statements are "astonishing".
The negotiator hoped that the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the withdrawal agreement, including the Irish Protocol, could be set up before the end of March. "We are going to check together that all the steps are taken so that by 31 December, the whole protocol will be working", assured the negotiator, not wanting to give in to the "noise" coming from London. Within this Joint Committee, Maroš Šefčovič will be responsible for representing the Commission, Mr Barnier also announced, as decided by Ursula von der Leyen.
Earlier this morning, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney also warned that if there was "no progress on the protocol in the coming months", it would be "difficult to give anything" on the future relationship and that failure to comply with the protocol would cause "significant damage" to the chances of reaching a comprehensive agreement with London before the end of the year.
See the mandate given by the Twenty-Seven to the Commission: http://bit.ly/2Vlxc9F (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)