Theresa May dashed to Brussels overnight, and this is why.
Shortly after 6.30am on Friday morning, the British Prime Minister and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker held a joint press conference to confirm that an initial agreement had been reached on the first phase of Brexit negotiations, paving the way for future talks on the future UK-EU relationship.
Juncker announced they had made the “breakthrough we needed”, just in time for the EU’s deadline for the initial stage. He told a press conference in Brussels that negotiations had been “difficult” for both the EU and the UK.
The full text of the joint report on progress during phase 1 is available here, and it outlines the following:
“Both Parties have reached agreement in principle across the following three areas under consideration in the first phase of negotiations, on which further detail is set out in this report:
a. protecting the rights of Union citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the Union;
b. the framework for addressing the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland;
and
c. the financial settlement.”
Theresa May confirmed that there would be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and that the Good Friday Agreement would be upheld. Also, EU citizens in the UK “will be able to go on living as before.”
Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, claims that she has secured “six substantive changes” to the text regarding the Irish border. It was confirmed that there would be no ‘hard’ border north-south, or east-west for Ireland (i.e. a ‘red line’ in the Irish Sea).
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney described the announcement as a “very good outcome for everyone on the island of Ireland – no Hard Border guaranteed!”
Regarding citizens’ rights, May said the deal would guarantee the rights of three million EU citizens in the UK “enshrined in UK law and enforced by British courts”.
It seems EU gets ‘automatic roll over’ of permanent residence, whilst the UK has secured criminal record checks.
In terms of the financial settlement, May has agreed that this will be ‘honoured’ by the UK, but in a way that is “fair to the British taxpayer.”
Today’s announcement means the UK can now begin talks on a post-Brexit free trade agreement with Brussels.
