This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42277040

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Brexit: 'Breakthrough' deal paves way for future trade talks Brexit: 'Breakthrough' deal paves way for future trade talks
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Theresa May has struck a last minute deal with the EU to move Brexit talks on to the next phase.Prime Minister Theresa May has struck a last minute deal with the EU to move Brexit talks on to the next phase.
There will be no "hard border" in Ireland and EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU, will see their rights protected.There will be no "hard border" in Ireland and EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU, will see their rights protected.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said "the breakthrough we needed" had been achieved, after months of negotiations.European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said "the breakthrough we needed" had been achieved, after months of negotiations.
Talks on post-Brexit trade between the UK and EU can now go ahead. If EU leaders agree, talks on UK-EU trade after Brexit can go ahead.
Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down, said there was still "more work to be done" and how it votes on the final deal "will depend on its contents". Mrs May depends on the party's support to win key votes in Westminster. The UK will then have about a year to hammer out an agreement on future relations, which will have to be ratified by the EU nations and the UK Parliament, before the UK leaves in March 2019.
Speaking at an early morning press conference in Brussels, Mr Juncker said: "Today's result is of course a compromise." Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down, said there was still "more work to be done" on the border issue and how it votes on the final deal "will depend on its contents". Mrs May depends on the party's support to win key votes in Westminster.
Negotiations had been "difficult for both the UK and the EU", he added.
Theresa May said getting to this point had "required give and take from both sides".
What has been agreed?What has been agreed?
The leader of the DUP Arlene Foster, said on Friday she was "pleased" to see changes which mean there is "no red line down the Irish Sea". The Irish border - and regulatory alignment
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the latest deal was a "very good outcome for everyone on the island of Ireland". The joint report agreed by Mrs May and Mr Juncker states, that if a trade deal cannot be agreed, the UK will maintain "full alignment" with elements of the EU single market and customs union mentioned in the Good Friday agreement.
Analysis: That means on issues such as agriculture and energy the whole of the UK would continue to abide by EU rules.
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor Some in the DUP would have liked to remove "full alignment" from the report altogether, but that would not have been acceptable to the Irish government, says the BBC's Chris Morris.
It is a fallback position, he adds, and the detail of how it might be done remains to be negotiated, and is likely to be highly controversial.
"But one thing is clear - there is no partial membership of the single market and the customs union on offer. Other EU member states wouldn't accept it", says Chris Morris
Citizens' rights
Mrs May said that EU citizens in the UK would have their rights "enshrined in UK law and enforced by British courts".
But the agreement also says the European Court of Justice will continue to have a role in overseeing their rights for eight years after Brexit, a move which may concern some Brexiteers. Guarantees will also apply to UK citizens living in other EU countries.
Friday's "joint report" says more than 3m EU citizens will be able to live and work in the UK in line with current rules and the rights of those who are yet to be granted permanent residency will be protected, so they can acquire it after Brexit.
It includes reunification rights for relatives who do not live in the UK to join them in the future and will extend to future spouses or partners of EU citizens.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove tried to alleviate the concerns of some Brexit supporters over the continuing role of the European Court of Justice for eight years after withdrawal.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "it will be a matter for British judges to decide" what cases are referred to the court.
The divorce bill
On the issue of the "divorce bill" - the UK's financial settlement - the PM said it would be "fair to the British taxpayer" and would mean the UK in future "will be able to invest more in our priorities at home, such as housing, schools and the NHS."
Mr Gove also played down talk of a "£48bn "divorce bill", claiming it would be less than had been reported in the press, but refused to comment further on the figure.
What has changed since Monday?
The DUP, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down, say there have been six "substantial changes" to the text.
In a crucial passage, which appears to have been added to satisfy DUP concerns, it states that "no new regulatory barriers" will be allowed between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and that the province's businesses will continue to have "unfettered access" to the UK internal market.
Party leader Arlene Foster said they would mean there was "no red line down the Irish Sea" - meaning no customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg's analysis
Theresa May has achieved what she wanted - the green light to move on. Had she not, she was in deep, deep political trouble.Theresa May has achieved what she wanted - the green light to move on. Had she not, she was in deep, deep political trouble.
But the 15 pages, described as a "personal success" for Theresa May by Donald Tusk in the last few minutes, give her what she needed for now.But the 15 pages, described as a "personal success" for Theresa May by Donald Tusk in the last few minutes, give her what she needed for now.
There are additional guarantees for Northern Ireland and the border, but an undefined statement on "full alignment", if there is no big trade deal.There are additional guarantees for Northern Ireland and the border, but an undefined statement on "full alignment", if there is no big trade deal.
The implications of what "full alignment" will mean will still be fought over by the two wings of the Conservative Party.The implications of what "full alignment" will mean will still be fought over by the two wings of the Conservative Party.
Read more from LauraRead more from Laura
The joint report states: "the UK 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." How have the big players reacted?
What happens to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had been among the key sticking points in Brexit negotiations.
On Monday, the DUP objected to draft plans drawn up by the UK and the EU.
With regard to EU citizens' rights, Mrs May said the agreement would guarantee the rights of three million EU citizens in the UK.
Their rights would "enshrined in UK law and enforced by British courts".
The rights of UK citizens living in the EU will also remain the same and the administration procedure for those concerned will be "cheap and simple", Mr Juncker added.
The UK, which is due to leave the EU in March 2019, has been keen to open talks on a new free trade deal as soon as possible.
The EU would only agree to discuss this when it judged that enough progress has been made on the "separation issues" - the "divorce bill", expat citizens' rights and the Northern Ireland border - that have been the subject of negotiations so far. There has been much pressure to try to settle the Northern Ireland border issue before EU leaders meet next week.