EU DIVIDE
Union annual budgets years 2019 and 2020”.
It is reported the UK’s financial settlement will come to an estimated £35-£39bn. There had been speculation it could hit £50bn–plus.
The UK will “contribute its share of the financing of the Union’s liabilities incurred before December 31, 2020”. 4. British courts will have “due regard” to European Court of Justice rulings when it comes to the rights of EU citizens in the UK The report states that the Court of Justice is the “ultimate arbiter of the interpretation of Union law” and a mechanism will be established for eight years so that UK courts or tribunals can “ask ques- for the tions of interpretation of those rights”.
However, it is also “envisaged to give the UK Government and the European Commission the right to intervene in relevant cases” before either the Court of Justice or UK courts and tribunals.
Who wins? The Irish Government It has won a whopper of a commitment. There will be no hard border, and if that isn’t facilitated by Britain’s future deal with the EU then the UK will “maintain full alignment” with the relevant “rules of the Internal Market and the Customs Union”.
The DUP can also take satisfaction in getting a pledge that the de facto border will not run down the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy “unfettered access” to the UK market. Theresa May When the DUP vetoed the previous draft agreement there was the possibility that a deal wouldn’t be struck this side of the new year. Did the PM have the competence and the credibility to secure progress?
The Brexit saga is far from finished but today Mrs May can relish messages of congratulations.
She has got both Dublin and the DUP on board and longawaited talks about the UK’s future relationship with the EU can begin. This is a cause of relief for business.
Prominent Tory eurosceptics have lined up to applaud the PM, who can go into next week’s EU summit feeling more secure in her job. Non-Conservative eurosceptics denounced the arrangements but this vitriol from the sidelines will not cause her to lose sleep. Who’s unhappy? Neil Hamilton, Ukip’s Welsh leader, has described Theresa May as a “spineless Remainer,” arguing she “caved in to EU extortion and promised them £40bn of our money”.
Arron Banks of Leave.EU argues that under the plans the UK will be “leaving the European Union in name only” and has called on the Conservatives to trigger a leadership contest.