EU and Britain plot the next Brexit chapter

THE European Commission and the British government let out an audible sigh of relief on reaching Friday’s historic Brexit divorce terms deal.

Yet numerous questions remain on the future trade relationship between the EU 27 and the bloc’s departing member as the discussions now move on to a new phase at the Brussels summit.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned “there is still work to be done” to “consoli the progress made to date.

The preamble to the 15-page divorce deal published after British Prime Minister Theresa May’s morning dash for talks with European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker illustrates the still precarious nature of the deal.

“Under the caveat that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, the joint commitments set out below in this joint report shall be reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement in full detail,” says the introduction to the text. The conclusion notes that the deal is conditional on “an overall agreement under Article 50 on the UK’s withdrawal, taking into account the framework for the future relationship as early as possible in 2018”.

Even Friday’s deal itself leaves elements open to question surrounding the thorny issue of the Irish border post-Brexit, along with the size of Britain’s divorce bill and the protection of expats’ rights. The deal is clear on guaranteeing the post-Brexit rights of Britons already living in the bloc and of their EU counterparts based in Britain with family members able to claim residence. But there is no mention, for example, of future spouses.

“We demand before we can give green light to the withdrawal agreement, that the future free movement and residence of UK citizens will also be guaranteed and this in all 27-member states,” said Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberals group in the European Parliament.

It is not yet clear if British expats will be able to retain their full current rights when they move to another EU country. — AFP