The future UK-EU relationship

Further information

In this report, the Committee said having published the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 19 March 2018, the EU and the UK were now moving on to the detailed scoping of future relations with a view to reaching agreement on a political declaration on the framework for this future relationship in October 2018.

This would be agreed alongside the Article 50 withdrawal agreement and the http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-negotiations-draft-withdrawal-agreement-19-march-2018/ agreement on the transition period. The European Council adopted its http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/03/23/european-council-art-50-guidelines-on-the-framework-for-the-future-eu-uk-relationship-23-march-2018/ guidelines for the forthcoming negotiations in March 2018.

An agreement reached on the UK's future relationship with the EU will, by definition, be bespoke. The Committee acknowledged that the UK had an enormous amount to offer the EU as a third country and that it was in the interests of the UK and the EU to reach an agreement that would benefit both.

Key tests

The Committee's tests by which it would judge the political declaration in October 2018 were as follows:

+ The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland must remain open with no physical infrastructure or any related checks and controls, as agreed in the Phase 1 Withdrawal Agreement.
+ Crime and terrorism: arrangements must replicate current operational and practical cross-border cooperation; particularly continued involvement with Europol and the European Arrest Warrant and participation in the EU's information-sharing systems including SIS II.
+ Institutional and decision-making frameworks must be identified to ensure that the UK was able fully to participate in foreign and security cooperation with the EU, to meet the challenges it shares with its EU27 neighbours.
+ In respect of trade in goods, there must be no tariffs on trade between the UK and the EU 27.
+ Trade in goods must continue to be conducted with no additional border or rules of origin checks that would delay the delivery of perishable or time-sensitive deliveries or impede the operation of cross-border supply chains.
+ There must be no additional costs to businesses that trade in goods or services.
+ UK providers of financial and broadcasting services must be able to continue to sell their products into EU markets as at present.
+ UK providers of regulatory standard.
+ There must be no impediments to the free flow of data between the UK and the EU.
+ Any new immigration arrangements set up between the UK and the EU must not act as an impediment to the movement of workers providing services across borders or to the recognition of their qualifications and their right to practise.
+ The UK must seek to maintain convergence with EU regulations in all relevant areas in order to maximise access to European markets.
+ The UK's continued participation in the European Medicines Agency, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and the European Chemicals Agency and in other agencies where there was a benefit to continuing co-operation.
+ The UK's continued participation in the Horizon 2020 programme, the Erasmus+ scheme, the Galileo project and in other space and research programmes in order to support the work of our world-class academic institutions and the importance of cultural and educational exchange between the UK and the EU 27.
+ The UK's continued participation in all relevant air safety agreements and the Open Skies Agreement to ensure no disruption to the existing level of direct flights.
+ The UK Government must ensure maximum access to European markets while agreeing reciprocal access to waters and a fairer allocation of fishing opportunities for the UK fishing industry.

Previous related reports

The United Kingdom: House of Commons: Exiting the European Union Committee had issued earlier related reports:

+ The progress of the UK’s negotiations on EU withdrawal, March 2018
+ The progress of the UK’s negotiations on EU withdrawal, December 2017
+ European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, November 2017
+ The Government’s negotiating objectives: the White Paper, April 2017
+ The Government's negotiating objectives: the rights of UK and EU citizens< March 2017 + The process for exiting the European Union and the Government’s negotiating objectives, January 2017The United Kingdom: House of Commons: Exiting the European Union Committee published a report The future UK-EU relationship on the 4 April 2018.

In this third report of the overarching inquiry into the Article 50 negotiations, the Exiting the European Union Committee set out key tests by which any deal agreed by October 2018 between the EU and the UK must be judged.

Note that a minority of the membership of the Committee did not agree with the final text.

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

BBC News, 04.04.18: MPs urge free trade area after Brexit - but committee is split http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43631410

The Guardian, 04.04.18: Brexit: UK should not rule out free trade deal with Europe, say MPs https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/04/brexit-uk-free-trade-deal-europe

UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Committees: News, 04.04.18: Future UK-EU relationship report published https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/exiting-the-european-union-committee/news-parliament-2017/progress-negotiations-future-relationship-report-published-17-19/

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: Post-Brexit UK-EU relations inquiry launch, March 2018 http://www.europeansources.info/record/post-brexit-uk-eu-relations-inquiry-launch/

ESO: Find further information on the EU-UK future relationship after Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=brexit%20after%20future%20relationship%20&searchOption=all

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