Friday 28 February 2020

EU and UK - Future Relationship negotiations



Talks in July:

BBC News - Further talks are planned to take place in July 2020 - The UK and EU have said no major progress has been made towards a deal after four rounds of talks this year. Both sides were due to decide by the end of June whether the current deadline for negotiating a deal should be extended beyond the end of December.

Transition Period:

On Friday 12 June, the UK government informed the EU that it would not be extending the transition period - see Politico 12 June.  This decision appeared to disregard the difficulties in reaching agreement with the EU on the future relationship. There is little to show for the four rounds of talks already held in 2020. The decision not to seek an extension also disregards the huge losses to the UK economy due to the coronavirus pandemic - e.g. The Guardian - UK economy to shrink by 8% in 2020.  The CBI has warned that Firms can't cope with no deal and virus - BBC News 11 June.

Fourth round of talks - June 2020:

The fourth round of negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom took place via videoconference from Tuesday 2 June to Friday 5 June 2020.

European Commission Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier held a closing press conference on Friday 5 June. Watch the press conference. Read the introductory remarks of Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier.

Statement of UK negotiator Mr David Frost 

EU's Michel Barnier slams UK over Brexit negotiations

Financial Times - UK and EU look for compromises after Brexit talks end in stalemate

Debates in Parliament - 2 June (Commons) Plans for no deal - 4 June (Commons) EU's mandate9 June (Commons) Future Relationship with EU - 9 June (Lords) Trade and Security - 10 June (Exiting EU Civil Aviation)

Third round of talks - May 2020:
 
The third round of negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom took place via videoconference from Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May 2020.
 European Commission Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier held a closing press conference on Friday 15 May. Watch the press conference.  Read the introductory remarks of Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier.


Second round of talks - April 2020:

1 May 2020 - The Guardian reported about the on-going negotiations and see New European 30 April regarding EU preparations for "no deal" at the end of 2020.

25 April - The Guardian 24 April reported that M Barnier suggested that the UK is running down the clock in talks over the future trade and security relationship with the EU. A further report in The Guardian noted that Barnier’s opposite number, David Frost, opened the first plenary session by “reiterating the government wish not to extend the transition period and that the job could be done by the end of the year." Some observers said the UK government’s position that an extension is not necessary was astonishing given the depth of the coronavirus crisis.

Further information of "Forging a new partnership" is available at the EU Commission website

European Commission Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier held a closing press conference on Friday, 24 April. Watch the press conference. Read the introductory remarks of Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier.

18 April - UK government continuing to refuse to extend the transition period - Brexit blog (Professor Chris Grey)

14 April - Financial Times - Brexit negotiators try to pick up pieces as talks resume

First round of talks:

7 April 2020 - House of Commons Library - What is happening in the UK-EU future relationship negotiations? 

18 March - EU Commission - Draft text of the Agreement on the New Partnership with the UK

UK Government 27 February - Our approach to the future relationship with the EU

Hansard 27 February - Statement in the House of Commons

European Council 25 February - Negotiating Guidelines approved

EU Commission - UK Taskforce 

Agreements and Political Declaration:

Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration

EEA EFTA Separation Agreement and the Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement

Committees:


House of Commons - Committee on the future relationship with the EU

House of Commons Library 2 March 2020 - Research Briefing - The UK-EU future relationship negotiations: process and issues

House of Lords - European Union Committee

Brexit Library:

Brexit Library - Key Materials  - The Brexit Library contains links to posts on this blog from 20 February 2016 to 31 January 2020 

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