The former chief negotiator of the European Union for the future relationship with the United Kingdom, Michel Barnier, warned on Thursday 28 January that if London’s “intentions” are to diverge on “working hours, pesticides or agricultural products, if these divergences turn into distortions of competition causing job destruction in the EU, then we will use all the tools” allowed by this international treaty.
Mr Barnier was speaking about the post-Brexit agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom, which was concluded at the end of 2020, before the members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), who raised a number of questions about the interminable negotiations affecting trade, economic cooperation, fisheries, and internal security.
The autonomy taken back by the United Kingdom “should not be allowed to become a tool for fiscal, social, or environmental dumping”, and that is why a reciprocal framework for a level playing field has been established “which should deter both sides from unfair competition”, he added.
Several EESC members, such as the Maltese Stefano Mallia (Employers’ Group), expressed concern about the export conditions for European companies and “the difficulties some of them encounter in trading”. He called for the establishment of a European tool to remedy this, modelled on the out-of-court network for settling disputes in the single market (SOLVIT).
Other officials called for a greater role for European and British trade unions in the monitoring arrangements for the agreement and found that the bilateral agreement had weaknesses in ensuring that there was no regression in these areas of labour law.
European Parliament calls for the period of provisional application to be extended
In addition, the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, wrote on 28 January to the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to officially request the extension of the deadline for provisional application of the trade and cooperation agreement, said Parliament spokesman Jaume Duch Guillot, confirming information from AFP.
In this letter, which was seen by EUROPE, Mr Sassoli points out the complexity and length of this international agreement, which justifies an extension - “beyond 28 February” - of the date currently set by both parties for ratification. The letter does not mention a specific deadline, but Parliament has already indicated that it is banking on the end of March (see EUROPE 12638/16). Some Member States even think that the end of April would be more realistic (see EUROPE 12642/1).
Mr Sassoli also indicated that Parliament wishes to remain closely involved in the implementation of the agreement, with each major change to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement subject to the Parliament’s consent procedure.
Parliament’s co-rapporteur for the agreement, Christophe Hansen, expressed a similar opinion to the Committee on International Trade (INTA) on the same day. “It would be important for us to be able to consult the memorandum of understanding on financial services as soon as possible”, he said.
MEPs on the INTA Committee also highlighted the technical difficulties encountered by companies on the ground during an exchange with the Commission. The latter recalled that border controls and rules of origin are an inevitable consequence of the UK’s exit from the single market. Companies must therefore adapt to this new reality.
Finally, the Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Antonio Tajani, stated the willingness of the Committee of Parliamentary Committee Chairs to assign each parliamentary committee the task of monitoring the implementation of the bilateral agreement in its areas of competence, and to allow each parliamentary committee to be in direct contact with the Commission in order to be informed and be able to give its opinion.
My proposal is to appoint a ‘standing rapporteur’ in each committee, Tajani said. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic with Léa Marchal and Mathieu Bion)