EU states briefed on post-Brexit agreement

THE 27 European Union states are expected to formally back the post-Brexit trade deal within days.

Ambassadors from the member states were being briefed on the contents of the deal on Christmas Day by Michel Barnier, who led Brussels’ negotiating team in the talks with the UK.

They have written to the European Parliament to say they intend to take a decision on the preliminary application of the deal within days.

The timing of the deal has forced politicians and officials in the UK and Brussels to tear up Christmas plans.

MPs and peers will be called back to Westminster on December 30 to vote on the deal, but MEPs are not expected to approve it until the new year, meaning it will have to apply provisionally until they give it the green light.

The draft treaty and associated Brexit agreements stretch to 1,246 pages of complex legal text.

Officials in Brussels and the capitals of EU states are beginning to scrutinise the texts.

The EU’s Brexit experts on the UK working group will meet daily in Brussels to clarify all aspects of the deal, with another meeting of ambassadors expected before the new year, possibly on December 28.

Late haggling meant the deal was not concluded until Christmas Eve, days before current trading arrangements expire at the end of December.

Sebastian Fischer, a spokesman for the German presidency of the Council of the EU, joked that he was looking forward to the diplomats’ meeting “because nothing is more fun than to celebrate Christmas among socially distanced colleagues”.

French Europe minister Clement Beaune said it was a “good agreement” and stressed the EU had not accepted a deal “at all costs”.

He told broadcaster Europe 1 “we needed an agreement less than the British”.

Mr Beaune said British food and industrial products entering the European single market after January 1 will not pay customs duties “but will have to meet all our standards”.

“There is no country in the world that will be subject to as many export rules to us as the UK,” he said.

A post-Brexit trade deal struck by the UK and Brussels needs to be approved by the British Parliament, all 27 remaining members of the EU, and MEPs.

The European Parliament has said it does not have time to discus and vote on ratifying such an agreement before the transition period expires on December 31. This means the deal will be “provisionally applied” until MEPs get to vote on it in January.

Ahead of the agreement being reached, Boris Johnson had put in place provisions for MPs to be recalled to Westminster with 48 hours notice to debate and decide on a deal. Parliament is set to be recalled next week to consider the deal and, with The Prime Minister’s majority in the Commons, it is expected to gain approval, especially with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer taking the view that any deal is better than no deal.

However, hardline Tory Brexiteers may stage a symbolic rebellion if they decide the UK has given too much ground.