May and EU reach last-minute deal

The United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) yesterday agreed to move on to the next phase of the Brexit negotiations to discuss the future trade agreement. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said there had been “enough progress” made and will recommend that European leaders meet on 14 and 15 December in Brussels to begin to negotiate the two-year transition period in which the UK will remain within the single market as May has asked. He also warned that “the most difficult is still to come.”

The UK is committed, according to the agreement, not to have a “hard” border between Northern Ireland and Eire. The agreement means the UK will maintain a total alignment with the rules of the internal market and the customs union. The result is a blow for the Eurosceptics of May’s party who want a divorce without an agreement. It also makes evident the confidence the UK has in the single market and its willingness for the final agreement to be along the same lines as well as maintaining the freedom of movement of EU citizens in Britain, one of the main reasons behind the separation.

There are still stumbling blocks as just how May will manage to keep the Irish border open will be closely scrutinised by her parliamentary allies, the DUP, which only a few days ago had threatened to sabotage the deal.

Another sensitive question is that of the three million Europeans living in the UK and one million British in the EU. The agreement guarantees their rights and the European Court of Justice will monitor the rights of European citizens during the eight years following the Brexit.

The UK has also agreed to pay between €40 and €45 billion in compensation although the exact figure is still unknown.