23 December 2019

EurActiv: EU charts path for ‘challenging’ post-Brexit UK deal

EU will keep engaging with the UK through the WTO and the UN as both sides work out a deal on their future ties once Britain leaves the bloc, according to the top Brexit negotiator in Brussels, Michel Barnier.

Agreeing and ratifying a post-Brexit relationship by the end of 2020 “will be immensely challenging, but we will give it our all, even if we won’t be able to achieve everything,” Barnier, wrote in a weekend online commentary for the Project Syndicate magazine website. [...]

Barnier, who was unfailingly courteous when he negotiated the terms of Britain’s withdrawal in a way to protect the EU’s single market and citizens, said he had three goals -framed as “New Year’s resolutions”- for the upcoming talks on the future relationship.

To work together on global issues, “the EU will continue to engage positively with the UK, both bilaterally and in global fora such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the G20,” he said.

In terms of security issues, while it is “simply not possible” for Britain to have the same access to data as EU members, “tackling terrorism, cyberattacks, and other attempts to undermine our democracies will require a joint effort”.

Barnier said there should be “unconditional commitment from both sides” to building a security alliance.

 

And for economic ties, “any free-trade agreement must provide for a level playing field on standards, state aid, and tax matters,” Barnier emphasised. [...]

Barnier suggested in his piece only a bare-bones trade deal was possible in the 11-month time frame “which, most likely, will have to be expanded in the years to come” to cover many areas left unaddressed.

Full article on EurActiv

Related article on City AM: EU-UK trade deal must share social and environmental standards, says Barnier

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