For the primary time after the signature of the EU-UK Commerce and Co-operation Settlement, Michel Barnier (pictured), head of the European Fee Activity Drive for Relations with the UK, expressed publicly his views on the textual content throughout a debate on the European Financial and Social Committee (EESC) January plenary session. “This settlement begins a brand new period of our relationship with the UK, however we must face collectively quite a lot of points sooner or later,” he mentioned.
In his speech, Barnier insisted on the truth that Brexit has no constructive outcomes: “This can be a divorce, and no person needs to be comfortable after a divorce. However this settlement we have now reached with the UK proves that the EU shouldn’t be a jail, as some demagogues on the appropriate and left need us to consider; we are able to get out of it, however those that wish to get out should face the implications within the type of distortions and turbulences.”
The aim of the settlement, in response to Barnier, is to place so as the financial and trade-related facets of the connection between the EU and the UK after Brexit, figuring out that it’s not an finish level: “It is not going to solely be obligatory to make sure the correct implementation of this settlement, however it’s going to definitely should be supplemented sooner or later for sure subjects that the UK didn’t wish to embody this time, akin to protection or international coverage”, mentioned Barnier.
An settlement primarily based on 4 pillars
The EU-UK Commerce and Cooperation Settlement is predicated on 4 pillars.
By way of commerce, its principal aim is, in response to Barnier, to make sure a “free and truthful commerce framework and a level-playing subject”, avoiding the danger of Brexit being utilized by the UK as a device for social dumping and unfair competitors. This settlement preserves and defends the European single market.
The second precedence was to place in place an bold social and financial cooperation in quite a lot of fields. Barnier insisted notably on the necessity to assure the interconnectivity between the EU and the UK in any respect ranges, not solely by way of transport and power, but in addition for some EU programmes. “Sadly”, mentioned Barnier, “this does not embody the Erasmus initiative, because the UK has refused to be part of it; and we should additionally bear in mind that the UK will apply sooner or later a a lot stricter immigration coverage, which is able to have an effect on the mobility of EU residents.”
The settlement additionally contains safety amongst its priorities, considering present challenges shared by the EU and the UK, as terrorism, cybersecurity or human rights. The doc contains necessary preparations associated to knowledge safety or basic rights, however no references are made to international coverage or protection, because the UK did not wish to point out them: “I notably remorse it, however our doorways are open and we are able to negotiate that sooner or later,” mentioned Barnier.
Lastly, the settlement contains necessary preparations in time period of governance, with quite a lot of bilateral our bodies and committees (as much as 19) that needs to be put in place to make sure the monitoring of its utility. These governance guidelines embody treatments or sanctions that each side can put in place, though, as Barnier talked about, “the concept is to not have recourse to them”.
Michel Barnier additionally reminded that the work of the European Fee shouldn’t be completed but and that two completely different models shall be put in place in its Secretariat-Normal, one to oversee the EU-UK withdrawal settlement and a second one to observe the EU-UK Commerce and Cooperation Settlement.
The settlement has additionally defended the curiosity of a member state, Eire; it has proved that not solely commerce but in addition peace and stability are key priorities for the EU.
The function of civil society
The President of the EESC, Christa Schweng, expressed her gratitude to Mr Barnier for his work throughout Brexit negotiations and for his “exemplary transparency and for the time put in to maintain civil society knowledgeable all through the negotiation course of”, with 5 completely different interventions in EESC plenary debates. Ms Schweng additionally expressed her hope that the Activity Drive for Relations with the UK and the brand new Service for EU-UK Agreements can proceed to help EESC’s work “at a extra technical degree”.
Jack O’Connor, Chair of the Brexit Comply with-up Group of the EESC, praised the way in which Barnier handled the state of affairs in Eire throughout Brexit negotiations and reminded the dedication made by the EESC and the Brexit Comply with-up Group to “play our function to optimize the potential of this settlement”, notably in relation to the UK civil society.
The President of the Range Europe Group, Séamus Boland, additionally reminded the state of affairs in Eire: “It was a difficult problem, however you gave precedence to human and ethical points, and I thanks for that.”. In accordance with Boland: “The EU and the UK are coming into in a section of unusual relations, because the UK is a neighbour too small to care about, however too large to disregard; the state of affairs relating to Brexit is barely starting, we shall be tied to negotiations with the UK for years. However let’s not overlook all the things is about folks and communities.”
Employers’ Group President Stefano Mallia mentioned: “There’s quite a lot of committees and mechanisms that must be arrange, together with the Civil Society Discussion board, and the EESC can play a really energetic function as a variety of work has already been accomplished by its members.” And he concluded: “This isn’t the tip of Brexit, there’s nonetheless an extended strategy to go.”
Oliver Röpke, President of the Staff’ Group, expressed his aid for the truth that the non-deal situation has been averted and insisted that the institution of a level-playing subject is important, notably in relation to social rights. He additionally welcomed the institution of a Civil Society Discussion board, regardless of of its shortcomings: “It is disappointing that the session of this physique shouldn’t be obligatory in sure fields,” Röpke concluded.
EESC Members thanked Barnier and congratulated him for his professionalism and dedication, by which he has been capable of preserve the European entrance united for the reason that starting of the negotiations. On the identical time, Barnier thanked the EESC for its help and the standard of its work.