This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/dec/08/brexit-border-eu-theresa-may-juncker-tusk-markets-live

The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Brexit talks to move on to trade after Theresa May secures Irish border deal – live Brexit deal: talks to move on to trade after Theresa May says 'no hard border' in Ireland – live
(35 minutes later)
Secondly, Tusk wants to discuss the future relationship. He says “various ideas” have been floated, but the UK needs to provide more clarity on what it wants. He says he wants a close partnership on trade, but also in other policy areas - such as fighting terrorism and other crime.
He says today’s agreement is a “personal success” for Theresa May. But he has a warning: “The most difficult challenge is still ahead”. Tusk tells reporters:
We all know that breaking up is hard. But breaking up and building a new relation is much harder.
And, to finish, he delivers a stinging rebuke to the UK side, noting that more than a year has passed since the referendum result.
So much time has been devoted to the easier part of the task. And now, to negotiate a transition arrangement and a framework for our future relationship, we have de facto less than a year.
The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, is speaking now.
He confirms he has received the recommendation that talks should move on. First, he says, we should start negotiating the transition period. He says the UK has requested that should last two years. In return for that, the UK will need to respect EU laws - including new laws, budgetary decisions and judiciary oversight.
The European Council is the body that comprises the heads of state and government that received - and needed to formally act upon - the European Commission’s recommendation to move on to the next stage of negotiations. Tusk indicates that formality has now been undertaken.
As my colleague Dan Roberts points out, that passage means the UK has ensured it has a clause in there that makes clear Northern Ireland will not be decoupled from the rest of the country.
That would seem to tie in with Arlene Foster’s comments earlier this morning that she had been assured there would be “no red line down the Irish Sea”.
The UK remains committed to "full alignment with the rules of the customs union and the single market" but has added a clause to spell out that this won't just mean Northern Ireland on its own. pic.twitter.com/ZeYI9Ainml
Theresa May has promised there will be no barriers “north, south, east or west” between Ireland and Northern Ireland with “full alignment” between the two. Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, said:
We have a good outcome, this has been a difficult negotiation, I hope both sides are happy with what we have. It puts a floor in terms of what’s possible in the outcome.
The relevant passage - paragraph 48 - of the joint report reads:
The United Kingdom remains committed to protecting North-South cooperation and to its guarantee of avoiding a hard border. Any future arrangements must be compatible with these overarching requirements. The United Kingdom’s intention is to achieve these objectives through the overall EU-UK relationship. Should this not be possible, the United Kingdom will propose specific solutions to address the unique circumstances of the island of Ireland. In the absence of agreed solutions, the United Kingdom will maintain full alignment with those rules of the Internal Market and the Customs Union which, now or in the future, support North-South cooperation, the all- island economy and the protection of the 1998 Agreement.
Asked by RTE what was different in the text between Monday and now, Coveney said paragraph 50 was entirely new. It reads:
In the absence of agreed solutions, as set out in the previous paragraph, the United Kingdom will ensure that no new regulatory barriers develop between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, unless, consistent with the 1998 Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly agree that distinct arrangements are appropriate for Northern Ireland. In all circumstances, the United Kingdom will continue to ensure the same unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the whole of the United Kingdom internal market.
May has now moved on to her meeting with Donald Tusk, the president of the European council. The council now also needs to stamp its approval on the deal. We’re expecting to hear from Tusk at around 7.30am GMT.May has now moved on to her meeting with Donald Tusk, the president of the European council. The council now also needs to stamp its approval on the deal. We’re expecting to hear from Tusk at around 7.30am GMT.
I’m now handing the blog over to my colleague Kevin Rawlinson, who’ll bring you the Tusk words, along with the rest of the day’s fallout.I’m now handing the blog over to my colleague Kevin Rawlinson, who’ll bring you the Tusk words, along with the rest of the day’s fallout.
Thanks for starting early with us, and do stick around.Thanks for starting early with us, and do stick around.
The text of the agreement sets out what has been agreed on the three key issues of phase one of the talks: citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the divorce bill.The text of the agreement sets out what has been agreed on the three key issues of phase one of the talks: citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the divorce bill.
Here’s what Theresa May had to say this morning on these, via Press Association:Here’s what Theresa May had to say this morning on these, via Press Association:
The prime minister said that the agreement would guarantee the rights of three million EU citizens in the UK “enshrined in UK law and enforced by British courts”.The prime minister said that the agreement would guarantee the rights of three million EU citizens in the UK “enshrined in UK law and enforced by British courts”.
She said that it included a financial settlement which was “fair to the British taxpayer” and a guarantee that there will be “no hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic, preserving the “constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom”.She said that it included a financial settlement which was “fair to the British taxpayer” and a guarantee that there will be “no hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic, preserving the “constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom”.
At the press conference, May gave little detail of how these positions had been arrived at. Here is the link where the nitty-gritty – along with a number of yet-to-be determined questions – can be found.At the press conference, May gave little detail of how these positions had been arrived at. Here is the link where the nitty-gritty – along with a number of yet-to-be determined questions – can be found.
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, and Helen McEntee, the minister for European affairs, will hold a press conference in response to today’s announcement at 8am, around an hour from now.Simon Coveney, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, and Helen McEntee, the minister for European affairs, will hold a press conference in response to today’s announcement at 8am, around an hour from now.
Here is the link to the text of the agreement.Here is the link to the text of the agreement.
And a key line on Northern Ireland:And a key line on Northern Ireland:
The United Kingdom also recalls its commitment to the avoidance of a hard border, including any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls.The United Kingdom also recalls its commitment to the avoidance of a hard border, including any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls.
Here’s what the European commission says:Here’s what the European commission says:
If the European Council (Article 50) considers that sufficient progress has been made, the negotiators of the European Commission and of the United Kingdom Government will begin drafting a Withdrawal Agreement based on Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union on the basis of the Joint Report and the outcome of the negotiations on other withdrawal issues.If the European Council (Article 50) considers that sufficient progress has been made, the negotiators of the European Commission and of the United Kingdom Government will begin drafting a Withdrawal Agreement based on Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union on the basis of the Joint Report and the outcome of the negotiations on other withdrawal issues.
In line with the Guidelines of 29 April 2017, and once the Member States agree with the Commission’s assessment, the Commission stands ready to begin work immediately on any possible transitional arrangements and to start exploratory discussions on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom.In line with the Guidelines of 29 April 2017, and once the Member States agree with the Commission’s assessment, the Commission stands ready to begin work immediately on any possible transitional arrangements and to start exploratory discussions on the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
In other words: phase two.In other words: phase two.
May, questioned by a reporter, denies the text implies any kind of special status for Northern Ireland.May, questioned by a reporter, denies the text implies any kind of special status for Northern Ireland.
She says they might need to look for special arrangements because of the “unique circumstances” of the island of Ireland.She says they might need to look for special arrangements because of the “unique circumstances” of the island of Ireland.
She says there won’t be a hard border but the deal will maintain the integrity of the internal market in the UK.She says there won’t be a hard border but the deal will maintain the integrity of the internal market in the UK.
Scouring the agreement text, the BBC’s Ross Hawkins notes this line on future arrangements to ensure a soft border in Ireland: “full alignment with those rules of the internal market and the customs union”.
Joint report - key line on "full alignment" in absence of agreed solutions with internal market and customs union rules that protect Good Friday agreement pic.twitter.com/wf7jSpg49v
May says she expects next week to win the endorsement of the 27 member states to proceed to phase two of the negotiations, following the recommendation of the commission today.
May says she will write today “to the people of Northern Ireland to set out our approach”.
Key new line on the 'constitutional and economic integrity of the UK - agreement delivers no border north-south or east-west for Ireland
The deal will guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and of UK citizens in the EU, May says.
She says those living in the UK will have their rights enshrined in UK law and will be able to live their lives as they have done so far.
There will be no hard border in Ireland, she adds.
Theresa May is speaking now.
She says today’s agreement is a “significant improvement” on Monday’s text and is in “the best interests of the whole of the UK”.
I will always be sad about this development but now we must start looking to the future, Juncker adds.
He says he and May agree on the need for a “deep and close partnership” and to work together on trade and security, among other issues.
Today I am hopeful that we are now all moving towards the second phase of these challenging negotiations.
Juncker says May “has been as good as her word” on the UK’s financial commitments, as set out in what he calls her “remarkable” Florence speech.
He says the PM has also made it clear that she has made it a priority to protect peace in Northern Ireland.
Juncker says EU has "brought back" certainty for EU citizens living in the UK. Rights to study, family reunification, healthcare, pensions. Cheap admin procedures.
Juncker says: “We have now made the breakthrough we needed.”
He says May has assured him that the new text has the backing of the UK government.
He says the agreement is “of course a compromise”.
Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker have emerged from their working breakfast to set out where they’re up to.
Juncker confirms that the commission will now recommend that negotiations can go forward to phase two.
Here is the statement from the commission that clears the way for the European council to agree that negotiations can now proceed to phase two:
The European Commission has today recommended to the European Council (Article 50) to conclude that sufficient progress has been made in the first phase of the Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom. It is now for the European Council (Article 50) on 15 December 2017 to decide if sufficient progress has been made, allowing the negotiations to proceed to their second phase.
The Commission’s assessment is based on a Joint Report agreed by the negotiators of the Commission and the United Kingdom Government, which was today endorsed by Prime Minister Theresa May during a meeting with President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Commission is satisfied that sufficient progress has been achieved in each of the three priority areas of citizens’ rights, the dialogue on Ireland / Northern Ireland, and the financial settlement, as set out in the European Council Guidelines of 29 April 2017. The Commission’s negotiator has ensured that the life choices made by EU citizens living in the United Kingdom will be protected. The rights of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom and United Kingdom citizens in the EU27 will remain the same after the United Kingdom has left the EU. The Commission has also made sure that any administrative procedures will be cheap and simple for EU citizens in the United Kingdom.
As regards the financial settlement, the United Kingdom has agreed that commitments taken by the EU28 will be honoured by the EU28, including the United Kingdom.
With regard to the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom acknowledges the unique situation on the island of Ireland and has made significant commitments to avoid a hard border.