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EU agrees Brexit 'transition' negotiation guidelines EU agrees Brexit 'transition' negotiation guidelines
(about 2 hours later)
European Union ministers have met in Brussels to finalise their negotiating position on the transitional period that will follow the UK's departure from the bloc. The European Union has set out its demands for the temporary transition period after the UK leaves in March 2019.
They propose it will run from Brexit in March 2019 to 31 December 2020. The EU wants the UK to continue to follow its rules but not be involved in making decisions.
Theresa May's official spokesman said that while there was "broad agreement on the principle" there were differences on "specific detail". Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK wanted a "right to object" to new laws passed by the EU during this time.
Downing Street said there would "naturally" be differences between the sides ahead of negotiations.
The UK hopes the two sides can reach agreement by March.The UK hopes the two sides can reach agreement by March.
The transition period - also referred to as an implementation period - is seen as a way to minimise disruption when the UK leaves the EU for things like business, holidaymakers and security.The transition period - also referred to as an implementation period - is seen as a way to minimise disruption when the UK leaves the EU for things like business, holidaymakers and security.
It will also allow more time to finalise the terms of the UK's post-Brexit relations with the EU.It will also allow more time to finalise the terms of the UK's post-Brexit relations with the EU.
In their guidelines, the EU say:In their guidelines, the EU say:
Speaking at a press conference after EU ministers agreed the negotiating guidelines, chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the UK would be allowed to attend decision-making meetings on a "limited, exceptional, case by case basis."
It would be able to negotiate trade deals with other countries but the deals could not come into force until the transition period was over, he added.
This is in line with the UK's negotiating stance, as set out by Mr Davis in a speech on Friday.
Mr Davis also said existing international agreements - which include trade deals with other countries and agreements on aviation and nuclear power - should continue to apply during the period.
Giving evidence to a House of Lords committee on Monday, Mr Davis said the UK wanted a "right to object" to new laws passed by the EU during the transition phase over which it had no say and disagreed with.
"It's not particularly democratic practice to just have the country accept without any say-so, anything - particularly if... the European Union takes it on itself to do something which is actively disadvantageous to a major British industry or something like that," he said.
"So that's why we've raised the matter, and let's see how it goes."
Asked what legal status this would have, he said he wanted such a safeguard included in the withdrawal agreement.
Starting positions
Some in the UK are unhappy at the idea that the UK will have to follow the rules of the single market and the customs union, including freedom of movement for EU citizens, but will lose its voting rights.Some in the UK are unhappy at the idea that the UK will have to follow the rules of the single market and the customs union, including freedom of movement for EU citizens, but will lose its voting rights.
Mrs May's Brexit ''inner circle'' of senior ministers met in sub-committee on Monday morning to discuss how the transitional phase could work, including the UK's demand that it be free to negotiate trade deals with other countries during the period.Mrs May's Brexit ''inner circle'' of senior ministers met in sub-committee on Monday morning to discuss how the transitional phase could work, including the UK's demand that it be free to negotiate trade deals with other countries during the period.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ''There is obviously going to be a negotiation on what the implementation period looks like. Earlier a Downing Street spokesman said: ''There is obviously going to be a negotiation on what the implementation period looks like.
''The formal directives will be released this afternoon. This will be a negotiation and there will naturally be some distance in the detail of our starting positions."''The formal directives will be released this afternoon. This will be a negotiation and there will naturally be some distance in the detail of our starting positions."
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is to update the European Council later on the state of play in the negotiations before holding a press conference.