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Law intended to smooth Brexit reaches key hurdle
LONDON, Dec 20, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – Legislation intended to smooth Britain’s
exit from the European Union moves a step closer to becoming law on
Wednesday, as ministers begin working out what they want from Brexit.
The House of Commons will hold its eighth and final day of detailed
scrutiny of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which would formally end Britain’s
membership of the bloc and transfer EU rules into British law.
May suffered a humiliating defeat by pro-European members of her own
Conservative party last week, when MPs voted to amend the bill to ensure
parliament has the final say on any divorce deal with Brussels.
But she looks set to avoid a second rebellion over plans to enshrine
Brexit day in law, by offering some flexibility to move the date — March 29,
2019 — if negotiations with the EU go down to the wire.
The bill still has two days of debate by MPs in January, when the rebel
amendment could be reviewed, before it goes to the unelected House of Lords
for debate.
But the so-called “committee stage” of scrutiny was a test for May’s
minority government, which relies on a small Northern Irish party to push
through legislation.
EU leaders last week agreed to open the second stage of Brexit talks,
after approving an interim deal on Britain’s financial settlement, expatriate
rights and the Irish border.
But they are still unclear on what Britain wants from the future
relationship, including the shape of any trade deal.
Cabinet ministers held their first detailed discussion on the economic
partnership at a meeting on Tuesday, although no negotiating position was
finalised, with further talks expected in early January.
May’s spokesman said she called for “a deal which secures the best
possible trading terms with the EU, enables the UK to set rules that are
right for our situation and facilitates ambitious third-country trade deals”.
He said the cabinet agreed on the goal.
However, ministers are divided over how closely to stick to European
regulations after Brexit, with some favouring convergence to secure the best
possible trading ties, and others calling for a new approach.
Brussels meanwhile has repeatedly warned Britain that it cannot expect to
leave the EU’s single market and customs union, and maintain all its
benefits.
The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said that any deal struck would
inevitably result in Britain’s banks and financial companies losing rights to
trade across the bloc.
“There is no place” for giving Britain’s financial services full access to
the EU market, he told a number of newspapers, including Britain’s The
Guardian.
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, said that as
long as Britain’s goals remained vague, competing forces in May’s government
could keep together.
“But the real difficulties ahead lie when the British will ask for special
system of regulatory alignment — they won’t get it,” he said.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1125hrs