Category: Policy Paper

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Brexit Negotiations Future Relationship Policy Paper

The future relationship between the UK and the EU – White Paper

The long-awaited White Paper on the Future Relationship between the UK and the EU, has been published (12 July 2018). This follows on from the contents being agreed (unanimously) by the Cabinet at the recent meeting at Chequers. The document has more than 104 pages.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-future-relationship-between-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union

The newly appointed Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, is making a statement to the House of Commons about the Brexit White Paper. The statement was interrupted and the House of Commons suspended while MPs were given copies of the white paper. John Bercow, however, rejected a further request to suspend the sitting so that MPs could have time to read the White Paper.

(in case you don’t know who Domininc Raab is …)

https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/Dominic-Raab/4007

Here’s the statement:

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement about the UK’s future relationship with the European Union.

Let me start by paying tribute to my Right Honourable Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden, and his Herculean efforts along with my Honourable Friend the Member for Wycombe and the wider Dexeu team, to get us to this point in both the negotiations and the successful passage of the EU Withdrawal Bill. It is a striking achievement.

My Right Honourable Friend is a loss to Government, but I suspect, with the mildest apprehension, a considerable gain to this House.

Shortly, we will publish the Government’s White Paper on the UKs Future Relationship with the European Union. It is a new and detailed proposal for a principled, pragmatic and ambitious future partnership between the UK and the EU, in line with the policy agreed at Chequers last week.

I am placing a copy of the White Paper in the Libraries of both Houses, but let me briefly set out the key proposals. Mr Speaker, the Government is determined to build a new relationship that works for both the UK and the EU, one grounded in our shared history, but which looks to a bright and ambitious future. A relationship that delivers real and lasting benefit to both sides.

First, Mr Speaker the White Paper confirms that the UK will leave the European Union on 29 March 2019, forging a new way in the world – outside the Single Market, outside the Customs Union. It safeguards the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK. It reclaims the UK’s sovereignty. and it protects our economic interests, by minimising the risk of disruption to trade.

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Brexit Negotiations Policy Paper

EU Negotiation Documents – Catchup

Catching up on various papers and slides published by the EU since May22 2018 related to the Brexit negotiations

Slide on customs controls

date: 22 May 2018

This slide highlights the checks and controls that need to be carried out on goods entering, transiting or leaving the customs territory of the European Union. These controls are carried out by customs authorities, in close cooperation with other competent authorities, at the external border of the European Union. This slide also shows what checks and controls are not required if there is a customs union between the EU and a third country.

N.B.: Note that in the case of a customs union, the levying of customs duties is removed and proof of free circulation is required instead of rules of origin. All other checks and controls are still necessary. This is indicated in red in the below slide.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/customs_controls_0.pdf

Slides on UK technical note on temporary customs arrangements.

date: 11 June 2018

These slides present an analysis of the ‘Technical Note: temporary customs arrangement’ published by the United Kingdom on 7 June 2018.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/slides_on_uk_technical_note_on_temporary_customs_arrangements.pdf

Infographic on the EU’s “backstop” proposal

date: 11 June 2018

This infographic presents a visual summary of the ‘Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland’, which is part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement published on 19 March 2018.

The ‘Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland’ operationalises in legal terms the agreement reached in the Joint Report of 8 December 2017 and the commitments undertaken by PM May in her letter to European Council President Donald Tusk of 19 March 2018

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/infographic_on_the_eu_backstop_proposal.pdf

Involvement in the EU’s space-related activities (slides)

date: 13 June 2018

These slides summarise the possibilities for involvement of third countries in EU space-related activities, including Galileo, and provide a comparison with UK positions.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/slides_on_the_eus_space-related_activities.pdf

Foreign, security and defence policy (slides)

date: 15 June 2018

Slides on foreign, security and defence policy

These slides provide a comparison with UK positions

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/slides_on_foreign_security_defence_policy.pdf

Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters

date: 18 June 2018

Slides on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters

These slides provide a comparison with UK positions.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/publications/slides-police-and-judicial-cooperation-criminal-matters_en

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Brexit Negotiations Policy Paper Withdrawal Agreement

Joint statement on Withdrawal Agreement, June 2018

Update on the progress of negotiations on the draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-statement-on-withdrawal-agreement-19-june-2018

The joint statement of 19 June 2018 provides an update on the latest areas of agreement in the draft legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Since March we have reached new agreements on matters including goods on the market, Euratom related issues and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters. The UK and EU have committed to continuing to make progress as quickly as possible on the Withdrawal Agreement, taking account of the framework for the future relationship.

The document is available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717697/Joint_Statement_-_19_June_2018.pdf

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Brexit Negotiations Policy Paper

Citizens Rights – administrative procedures in the UK after Brexit

A policy paper has been released that details administrative procedures to support the UK’s proposals for the application system for EU citizens obtaining settled status in the UK following Brexit. In this document, sent to the European Commission as part of the negotiations, the Government reiterates how the new system will be streamlined, low-cost and user-friendly, with EU citizens consulted on its design.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizens-rights-administrative-procedures-in-the-uk

The UK will be bound by the obligations set out in the Withdrawal Agreement as a matter of international law. The citizens’ rights chapter of this Agreement will be incorporated in UK law, which means that the UK authorities will be required to confer the status and rights defined in the Withdrawal Agreement upon those EU citizens and their family members who fall within its scope, and EU citizens will be able to enforce their rights on that basis. In the UK, the route for individuals to obtain this status will be by application to the UK authorities, made within a period of time after exit as specified by the UK authorities. Obtaining this status will be a condition for lawful residence in the UK and enable these people to easily prove their unique status and rights, as guaranteed by the Agreement, to the UK authorities, employers, public service providers and others, in a convenient way in the future

A letter was also issued explaining the purpose of the document

Today, the Government has set out further details of how the new settled status scheme for EU citizens and their family members will operate as the UK leaves the EU. In a technical document sent to the European Commission as part of the negotiations, the Government reiterates how the new system will be streamlined, low-cost and user-friendly, with EU citizens consulted on its design.

EU citizens applying to stay in the UK after Brexit will have plenty of time, up to two years after the UK has left the EU, to obtain settled status. Those applying to stay in the UK after we leave the EU will not have their applications refused on minor technicalities and caseworkers considering applications will exercise discretion where appropriate. The new system will minimise the documentary evidence required and EU citizens will not be required to provide fingerprints as part of the application process.

Decisions will be based solely on the criteria set out in the Withdrawal Agreement, with no discretion for other reasons for refusal. EU citizens will also be given a statutory right of appeal, in line with their current rights through the Free Movement Directive, if their application is unsuccessful.

The Prime Minister has been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals in Europe is the first priority for negotiations and she said last month that an agreement is within touching distance.

Negotiation between the UK and EU is continuing and the next talks will take place this week on 9 and 10 November. We will continue to keep you updated on further progress.

The document is available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/657694/TECHNICAL_NOTE_CITIZENS__RIGHTS_-_ADMINISTRATIVE_PROCEDURES_IN_THE_UK.pdf (pdf)

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Brexit Negotiations Policy Paper

UK Policy Paper – Collaboration on science and innovation

The UK has recently published a paper which outlines the UK’s objectives for a science and innovation agreement with the EU following Brexit.

The paper outlines a number of examples where the UK sees potential mutual benefit in a close working relationship between the UK and the EU, and invites discussion with the EU on how best to shape the future partnership in this area.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/collaboration-on-science-and-innovation-a-future-partnership-paper

There are many examples of collaboration betwwen the UK and the EU including work in

  • Medical Research
  • Collaboration with European partners through international (non-EU) organisations such as
    • EUREKA

      • This intergovernmental network helps mostly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe and around the world to collaborate on R&D across borders to bring innovative ideas to market. EUREKA has 41 European members and four non-European associate members.

    • European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)

      • This is the European platform for collaboration on particle physics and the fundamental laws of nature. The UK was a founding member of CERN, which now includes membership from 22 countries, including Israel.

    • European Space Agency (ESA)

      • This agency is an international organisation with 22 Member States from across Europe. Canada also sits on the governing council and participates in some projects under a cooperation agreement.

    • European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI)

      • This is one of six institutes of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). EMBL, which comprises 23 EU Member States, two associate members, and five additional funding partners, focuses on molecular biology research and services.

  • Collaboration through EU and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) programmes

The UK is looking to agree a far-reaching science and innovation agreement with the EU that establishes a framework for future collaboration and would welcome dialogue with the EU reflecting the joint interest in promoting continued close cooperation, for the benefit of both UK and European prosperity.