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Main points of proposed Brexit deal
BRUSSELS, March 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The British government will have a
third attempt next week at getting MPs to approve the revived Brexit deal
agreed between London and Brussels.
Following a vote in the British parliament on Thursday, to seek an
extension to the Brexit process from March 29 to June 30, Prime Minister
Theresa May will bring the withdrawal agreement back before MPs.
The deal is aimed at ensuring a smooth exit from the European Union, to be
followed by a transition period that could last until 2022.
The 585-page withdrawal agreement was voted down overwhelmingly by the
British parliament in January, and again on Tuesday.
However, the government is hoping that the looming deadline will persuade
many MPs to change their minds.
Brexit hardliners have objected in particular to the agreement’s “backstop”
provisions on the Irish border, which they fear could lock Britain
indefinitely into a customs union with the EU.
After more talks with the EU, May on Monday said she had secured “legally
binding” changes to the Irish border issue.
But her government’s top law official, a respected lawyer, on Tuesday ruled
that while the likelihood of being stuck in EU trade arrangements had
reduced, risks from its most contentious legal points remained “unchanged”.
The other main elements in the agreement are the protection of citizens’
rights and Britain’s final bill to the EU.
Following are the main points of the deal:
– Transition period –
A transition period lasting until December 31, 2020 would preserve the
status quo and allow time for Britain and the EU to negotiate their future
relations.
It would also allow governments, businesses and individual citizens to
adapt to life after Brexit.
The only major difference during that period is that Britain would no
longer be represented in EU institutions.
Britain would continue to participate in the EU Customs Union and the
Single Market and must respect EU rules on free movement of goods, capital,
services and labour.
The transition period can be extended once for one or two years, meaning it
could last until December 31, 2022.
– Irish ‘backstop’ –
The deal outlines a “backstop” arrangement to prevent the return of border
checks between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of
Ireland if the sides fail to agree a free trade pact following the transition
period.
Under the arrangement, Britain and the EU would form a single customs
territory and Northern Ireland would also follow EU single market rules on
the movement of goods to allow the border to remain free-flowing.
Northern Irish businesses would be able to bring goods into the EU single
market without restrictions.
At any point after the transition period, the EU or Britain could decide
that the arrangement was no longer necessary — but crucially they must take
the decision together.
Some British MPs fear Britain could be stuck in the arrangement
indefinitely, which would hamper its ambition to develop an independent trade
policy.
– ‘Citizens rights’ –
The draft deal preserves the rights of the more than three million EU
citizens living in Britain and the one million British citizens living in the
EU.
EU and UK citizens, as well as their family members, can continue to live,
work or study, enjoying equal treatment to host nationals under the
respective laws.
It covers all such citizens who arrive before the transition period ends.
They will maintain their right to healthcare, pensions and other social
security benefits.
EU citizens arriving in Britain after the end of the transition period —
whenever that is — will be subject to more stringent immigration rules that
are currently being debated in the British parliament.
– Brexit bill –
Covering Britain’s outstanding financial obligations to the bloc, it calls
for a fair settlement for UK taxpayers that the British government estimates
to be up to œ39 billion (44 billion euros, $51 billion).
– Gibraltar –
With longstanding Spanish claims to Britain’s Mediterranean outcrop of
Gibraltar, all sides sought to defuse any future tensions.
The deal provides for Spanish-British cooperation on citizens’ rights,
tobacco and other products, environment, police and customs matters.
It sets the basis for administrative cooperation for achieving full
transparency in tax matters, fighting fraud, smuggling and money laundering.
– British bases in Cyprus –
The deal aims to ensure no disruption or loss of rights for the 11,000
Cypriot civilians living and working in the areas of the British sovereign
military bases.
It aims to ensure that EU law will continue to apply in the base areas,
including on taxation, goods, agriculture, fisheries and veterinary and
phytosanitary rules.
– Other points –
It oversees the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom, the EU treaty on nuclear
energy and protects intellectual property, including trademarks as well as
more than 3,000 EU geographical indications.
The latter cover regional brands such as Welsh lamb, Parma ham, Champagne,
Bayerisches beer, Feta cheese, Tokaj wine, Jerez vinegar.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1156 hrs