Brexit eu adopts guidelines for negotiations on future relations

On April 29, 2017, the European Union (EU) adopted guidelines for the negotiations on the United Kingdom's (UK) withdrawal from the EU, commonly referred to as Brexit. The guidelines were agreed upon by the European Council, which is composed of the heads of state or government of the 28 EU member states.

The guidelines set out the EU's position on the key issues to be addressed during the negotiations, including:

  1. Sovereignty: The EU emphasized the need for the UK to respect the integrity of the EU's single market and the four freedoms (free movement of goods, services, capital, and people) that underpin it.
  2. Citizens' rights: The EU sought to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU, including their right to reside, work, and access healthcare and social security benefits.
  3. Financial settlement: The EU demanded that the UK honor its financial commitments to the EU, including its contributions to the EU budget and its liabilities for projects and programs already underway.
  4. Irish border: The EU emphasized the need to avoid a hard border between the UK and Ireland, and to maintain the Good Friday Agreement, which has kept the peace in Northern Ireland since the late 1990s.
  5. Transition period: The EU proposed a transition period of up to two years to allow for a smooth exit and to give businesses and individuals time to adjust to the new arrangements.
  6. Future relationship: The EU outlined its vision for the future relationship between the UK and the EU, including a free trade agreement, cooperation on security and defense, and collaboration on research and innovation.

The guidelines also established the framework for the negotiations, including:

  1. Two-year timeline: The negotiations were to be completed within two years, with a deadline of March 29, 2019.
  2. EU's negotiating position: The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, was tasked with leading the negotiations and representing the EU's interests.
  3. UK's negotiating position: The UK was responsible for presenting its own negotiating position and proposals to the EU.

The adoption of the guidelines marked the beginning of the formal Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU. The negotiations were complex and challenging, with both sides facing significant obstacles and disagreements. Ultimately, the UK and the EU agreed on a withdrawal agreement in October 2019, which was ratified by the UK Parliament in January 2020. The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020, and entered a transition period that lasted until December 31, 2020.