EU eyes ‘association deal’ after Brexit
BRUSSELS: Britain’s departure from the European Union was set in law on Wednesday as London returned a signed treaty and EU lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to approve the Brexit deal. After half a century of sometimes awkward membership, the United Kingdom will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time on Friday. Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the 27 EU states staying on together that a loose so-called ‘association agreement’ like the one the bloc has with Ukraine should serve as the basis for a new relationship with Britain, diplomatic sources said. Barnier met Brussels envoys of the 27 countries on Wednesday as part of preparations for looming talks on a new EU-UK deal that will start after Britain leaves the bloc. Diplomats briefed on the closed-door meeting told Reuters Barnier stressed the bloc would not give ground on its key principles and was ready to hold negotiating rounds with Britain every three weeks on a dozen-or-so issues in parallel. He identified fisheries and trade areas as carrying the risk of potentially the most-damaging rupture in ties should talks not yield an agreement on a new deal by the end of 2020 when a postBrexit status quo transition period ends.
He said the EU would assess progress to date in July.
For economic ties, the bloc wants to focus on a free-trade agreement, a deal on fisheries and the so-called level playing field guarantees of fair competition. Internal and external security, foreign policy and defence cooperation make up the second leg of talks as envisaged by the EU.