The United Kingdom expressed a “definitive” refusal to extend the post-Brexit transition period beyond 2020 on Friday 12 June. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove “could not have been clearer” at a recent online meeting of the EU/UK Joint Committee charged with implementing the withdrawal agreement.
This information was provided to the press by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, who represents the European Commission at the Joint Committee table and is responsible for inter-institutional relations.
The meeting, which evaluated the implementation of the withdrawal agreement’s various components - citizens’ rights, the protocols on Northern Ireland and Gibraltar - was rather positive and constructive. However, the British Government’s position on this decision to extend the withdrawal period, to be taken jointly with the Commission before the end of June, seems to be clear already.
Europeans had little hope that London would ask for an extension of the post-Brexit transition period to allow time for negotiations on the future bilateral relationship. The case therefore appears to be closed 3 days before the summit meeting between the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and the Presidents of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Parliament, David Sassoli.
On Monday 15 June, the four political leaders are due to take stock of the negotiations that began in February, which have been largely slowed down by the coronavirus crisis.
Maroš Šefčovič expects this meeting to revive the “dynamics of the negotiations” and the work. He also confirmed the new work programme for the two sides, who will meet - physically - at the end of June, in July and again at the end of August for new rounds of discussions punctuated by smaller meetings among the chief negotiators. The aim is to reach a milestone in the negotiations by September.
See the new agenda: https://bit.ly/2B25K8C
EU wants to ensure a stable presence in Northern Ireland
September is also the month in which the joint committee will meet again. On this subject, the Vice-President of the Commission felt that there was still work to be done, in particular to implement the protocol on Northern Ireland and the arrangements for checks on goods arriving from Great Britain.
This is certainly one of the most sensitive issues. The specialised committee on this topic will meet by September to produce results, Šefčovič said.
He also welcomed the recent British document explaining how the protocol would be implemented. But “it lacks detail” and needs to be more precise in the modalities, he explained.
The physical presence of the EU in Northern Ireland was one of the conditions for ensuring that the specific protocol is fully implemented. The withdrawal agreement provides for the EU to carry out inspections there. However, the two sides have still not found a solution on maintaining EU representation in Belfast. Mr Šefčovič hoped that this would change soon.
For the rest, Maroš Šefčovič considered positive the fact that more than 3 million Europeans now have legal residence status in the UK, although difficulties remain for some vulnerable people. Conversely, he said that guidance had been sent to the EU-27 to ensure that the rights of the British in the EU were also well respected.
From a practical point of view, both parties have endorsed the new text of the withdrawal agreement, which has undergone technical amendments, in particular to adjust dates. The Council of the EU validated these minor changes this week by written procedure.
Parliament does not want an agreement at all costs
On Friday, Parliament’s committees on International Trade and Foreign Affairs approved their joint draft report on future relations between the EU and the UK.
Based on the opinions of 17 parliamentary committees, the report stresses the need for both parties to conclude an ambitious future partnership with strong provisions on fair competition rules (‘level playing field’), through compliance with non-regression clauses on fiscal, environmental and social standards.
Rapporteurs Christophe Hansen (EPP, Luxembourg) and Kati Piri (S&D, Netherlands) support the Commission’s move to seek a global agreement rather than the “salami strategy” presented by London. “We also need to agree on the role of the European Court of Justice in interpreting EU rules”, they added. Parliament is also calling for strong bilateral cooperation in judicial and security matters.
On the free trade agreement, Parliament’s draft report recalls that the scope and ambition of any agreement supported by the Union is conditional on the acceptance by the United Kingdom of provisions for a level playing field, taking into account geographical proximity and market integration. The conclusion of a fisheries agreement is another prerequisite.
The report was adopted by 85 votes in favour, 6 against and 17 abstentions. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)