European Commission publishes draft Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details IP/18/1243 (28.02.18)
Publication Date 28/02/2018
Content Type

Further information:

The draft Withdrawal Agreement translates into legal terms the Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on the progress achieved during phase 1 of the negotiations, published on 8 December 2017, and proposes text for those outstanding withdrawal issues which are mentioned in, but not set out in detail, in the Joint Report. It also integrates the text on the transition period, based on the supplementary negotiating directives adopted by the Council (Article 50) on 29 January 2018.

The draft Withdrawal Agreement consists of six parts – including introductory provisions, citizens' rights, other separation issues such as goods placed on the market before the withdrawal date, the financial settlement, transitional arrangements, and institutional provisions – and a protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland. This protocol operationalises the third option outlined in the Joint Report, in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. This is the fall-back solution of the Joint Report, which applies in the absence of other agreed solutions. This draft protocol does not prejudge discussions on the other two options.

The European Commission published on 28 February 2018 a Position Paper called the 'Draft Withdrawal Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community'.

The document specifically highlights the issue of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-1243_en.htm
Related Links
European Commission Draft Withdrawal 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://ec.europa.eu/commission/publications/draft-withdrawal-agreement-withdrawal-united-kingdom-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-european-union-and-european-atomic-energy-community
European Commission: Publication of the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom [Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-1361_en.htm
European Commission: Press statement by Michel Barnier following the publication of the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-18-1402_en.htm
Deutsche Welle, 28.02.18: EU's Michel Barnier reveals draft Brexit treaty http://p.dw.com/p/2tSNv
Jurist, 28.02.18: European Commission releases draft Brexit agreement http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2018/02/european-commission-releases-draft-brexit-agreement.php
Irish Times, 28.02.18: Your quick guide to today’s EU Brexit proposals https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/your-quick-guide-to-today-s-eu-brexit-proposals-1.3409054
Politico, 28.02.18: Brexit legal text signals greater EU urgency https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-brexit-legal-text-signals-greater-eu-urgency/
BBC News, 28.02.18: How to read the draft Brexit treaty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43224166
Scottish Centre on European Relations: Comment, 07.03.18: The EU’s Draft Trade Guidelines: Heading to Canada Dry https://www.scer.scot/database/ident-5321

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