UK, EU agree on Brexit transition

brussels — Britain and the European Union agreed on Monday to a transition period to avoid a “cliff edge” Brexit next year — though only after London accepted a potential solution for the border with the Irish Republic that may face stiff opposition at home.

The pound surged on the confirmation that Britain would remain as effectively a non-voting EU member for 21 months until the end of 2020. Some business leaders, however, echoed a warning from EU negotiator Michel Barnier that the deal will be legally binding only if London ratifies the whole withdrawal treaty by March 2019.

That means solving outstanding issues, notably how to avoid a “hard border” that could disrupt the peace in Northern Ireland. Britain says an EU-UK free trade deal to be sealed by 2021 can do that. But Dublin wants this year’s treaty to lock in a “backstop” or fallback arrangement in case that future agreement does not work. —

brussels — Britain and the European Union on Monday reached a landmark deal on a transition phase that will last for nearly two years after the historic Brexit divorce next year, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said.

The two sides also agreed on a “backstop” solution for the thorny issue of the future of the Irish border, just weeks after Prime Minister Theresa May said no British premier could ever accept such an idea.

After an “intensive” weekend of talks in Brussels, Barnier said the two sides were “in agreement on a large part” of the divorce treaty governing the terms of Britain’s departure after four decades of membership.

“We have reached an agreement on the transition period,” Barnier told a press conference with Davis.

The transition will begin on Brexit day — March 29, 2019 — and last until December 31, 2020, and during that period, Britain “will no longer participate in the European Union decision-making process,” Barnier said.

“Nevertheless, it will preserve the benefits, the advantages of the single market and the customs union... and will therefore be required to respect all the European rules just like all member states do.”

Davis told the news conference that the transition deal “gives the certainty demanded by businesses and citizens across Britain and the European Union.”