UK-EU relations after Brexit

The United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union published a report UK-EU relations after Brexit on the 8 June 2018.

It identified the high-level benefits that could derive from a new UK-EU relationship and the associated compromises needed.

The main sections in the report were:

+ The scope of the future UK-EU relationship
+ The benefits and costs of the new relationship
+ Models for the future relationship
+ Reaching the finishing line

Further information

The EU Committee's report argued that the UK and EU have approached the negotiations with too great a focus on 'red lines', increasing the risk that they would be left without an agreement on the future relationship. It calls on both sides to focus on identifying benefits, and areas of mutual interest, and to acknowledge that compromises would be needed.

The Committee emphasised the critical importance of the Government bringing forward detailed, workable proposals in time to influence the drafting of the October 2018 'political declaration' which would set out the framework for future UK-EU relations.

The Committee also argued that the greater the benefits sought from the new relationship, the greater the compromises that would be needed. Forming a deep and durable partnership would entail trade-offs, and there will be 'no free lunch' for either the UK or the EU.

+ How close were the two sides to agreement?

As part of the report, the Committee published a colour-coded table showing the extent of agreement between the UK Government, the European Council and the European Parliament, across all policy areas. The Committee would update this table to reflect progress in negotiations.

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: EU Select Committee: News, 02.07.18: Lords debate UK-EU relations after Brexit report https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-select-committee-/news-parliament-2017/lords-debate-uk-eu-relations/

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

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: EU Select Committee: News, 08.06.18: UK and EU need to compromise for a fruitful post-Brexit relationship https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-select-committee-/news-parliament-2017/uk-eu-future-relations-report/

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: EU Select Committee: Comparison of the UK Government, European Council and European Parliament’s positions on future UK - EU relations (5 June 2018 and periodically updated)) https://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/eu-select/scrutiny-brexit-negotiations/brexit-negotiations-comparison-table.pdf

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 05.06.18: Brexit: Time to Drop the Niceties http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-time-to-drop-the-niceties/

Open Europe: Report, June 2018: Striking a Balance: A blueprint for the UK-EU future economic relationship http://www.europeansources.info/record/striking-a-balance-a-blueprint-for-the-uk-eu-future-economic-relationship/

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Library: Briefing Paper No.8289 (19.04.18): Brexit: new guidelines on the framework for future EU-UK relations http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-new-guidelines-on-the-framework-for-future-eu-uk-relations/

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