The
European Commission published on Thursday an updated Brexit treaty draft. The
new draft leaves little room for optimism, even on the transition deal that has
become an operating assumption in the UK.
The draft
envisages Brexit to take place on March 29, 2019, followed by a two-year
transition period, ending in December 2020.
The final
text will have to be negotiated with London but a number of unresolved issues
call into question the transition deal.
Amendments
to the text published in February aim to provide greater legal clarity, but
substantial political challenges remain contentious, including the border in
Northern Ireland.
Another
contentious issue is the status of EU citizens immigrating to the UK after
March 2019, when the UK leaves the EU but enters a transition period that is
meant to resemble the status quo. The UK is willing to grant freedom of
movement but not family reunifications rights.
Finally, it
is unclear what will happen if the UK and the EU do not reach a final Free
Trade Agreement within the two-year period, as it is likely.
The next
negotiating milestone is March 23, at a European Council.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/commissions-new-draft-brexit-deal-leaves-little-room-optimism/