BREXIT TIMELINE
A White Paper on Brexit is expected to be published this week, before the European Council meets in October, the date earmarked for a deal with the EU to be completed. It follows Friday’s Chequers summit which saw the Cabinet back an offer to Brussels to share a “common rulebook” on goods and form a new UK-EU free trade area.
Here are the key milestones expected as
Britain leaves the European Union:
2018
12 July –
White Paper.
The fruits of the lengthy Chequers conflab are due to be published on Thursday. It will set out the government’s bargaining position in black and white for MPS, the public and perhaps most crucially the EU.
16-17 July – Bills, Bills, Bills. The Trade Bill and the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill, also referred to as the Customs Bill, are set to be debated by MPS on 17 and 16 July respectively.
The return of the bills to the Commons just before weary MPS leave for summer recess could provide fertile ground for MPS to rebel.
September
A major review of EU to UK migration and its role in the British economy is due to be published. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) was commissioned by then home secretary Amber Rudd in July 2017 to help officials draw up a post-brexit immigration policy.
23-26 September – Labour Party conference. Labour has its own divisions over Brexit, with a third of MPS rebelling against the whip in June in favour of the UK adopting the “Norway model” that would see it remain inside the single market.
30 September - 3 October – Conservative Party conference. In 2017, Theresa May was ambushed by a comedian and a cough during her keynote speech in Manchester.
Depending on what concessions (if any) are made to the EU over Brexit, the Prime Minister could face further ambushes from within the Tory ranks when the party faithful meet in Birmingham.
18 and 19 October – Deadline day(s) – the EU Council of national leaders.
This is the self-imposed deadline for agreeing the legally binding treaty setting out the terms of the UK’S withdrawal agreement and the 21-month transition period. If a final text is agreed at the October meeting, the Withdrawal Agreement will go to the UK and European parliaments for ratification.
13 and 14 December – The final scheduled EU Council meeting of 2018. Possibly the last time a withdrawal agreement could be agreed if October fails, unless an emergency meeting in November is called.
2019
Winter/spring – Ratification of the withdrawal and transition treaty – if in place – is expected, with MPS in Westminster being given a vote on whether or not to accept the deal, followed by a vote in the European Parliament, which holds a veto.
21 and 22 March – Final European Council summit in which the UK will take part as a member state. It comes just eight days before Britain quits the EU.
29 March – Two years after the invocation of Article 50, the UK ceases to be a member of the EU.
June – European Parliament elections take place without the UK.
2020
The EU’S chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, pictured, has said he expects negotiations to continue on Britain’s future relationship, including a free trade deal, during the transition.
31 December – Currently the end of the transition periodw, coinciding with the end of the EU’S seven-year budget.
However, companies including aviation multinational Airbus have said that this is too short, arguing that they need more time to reorganise their businesses.