EU summits come and go with Brexit featuring to a greater or lesser degree. The gathering in December 2017 was significant for its signing off on Phase 1 negotiations at the eleventh hour, but generally these events pass without major impetus to the process.
However, the atmosphere surrounding the June 2018 summit appeared more urgent than usual as the sand continues to pour through the Brexit hourglass. Once again, significant progress was not forthcoming, as the agenda focused instead on migration, security and eurozone reform, but the tone struck by key players in the negotiations has sharpened.
The UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, has confirmed that her government wants to work ‘at a faster pace’ with their EU counterparts to secure a deal, and is asking for the EU to be more flexible in negotiations. At the same time, the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, has urged clarification of the UK’s desired outcomes. The flexibility-clarity tug-of-war seems set to continue. For instance, it has been suggested that Mrs May will propose that the UK remains in the single market for goods only, but that the EU will reject any such proposal as ‘cherry-picking’ and potentially damaging to the integrity of the single market.
The UK cabinet will meet on 6th July to consider its plan for the UK’s future relationship with the EU and the government is expected to issue a wide-ranging Brexit White Paper the following week which will map out the vision in more detail. The EU hopes that this will provide the clarity they seek. However, key issues of contention remain, most notably the customs arrangements and the Irish border.
The next time European leaders gather for a summit will be in October 2018, the point at which both parties aim to confirm the outline of their future relationship. Many had anticipated that the structure of the deal would already be in place. Naturally, the fact that this point has yet to be reached is focusing the minds of those involved on finding solutions sooner rather than later.
All eyes now turn to the UK government’s much-heralded White Paper. EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has called upon Mrs May to ensure it is ‘workable and realistic’. Its content, and the reaction to it, could have a defining impact on negotiations and the Brexit that lies beyond.
Article published: 2nd July 2018
