The EU has agreed to Theresa May’s Brexit deal. At a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels, the leaders of the 27 countries remaining in the bloc endorsed both the Withdrawal Agreement, which sets out the terms under which the U.K. will leave the EU in March 2019, and the Political Declaration, which establishes the framework for negotiation of a future trade deal. “Ahead of us is the difficult process of ratification as well as further negotiations,” said European Council leader Donald Tusk. “But regardless of how it will all end, one thing is certain: we will remain friends until the end of days, and one day longer.”
After all the m&d-slinging on both sides, some might be skeptical about Tusk’s vow of eternal friendship. But the EU’s relationship with the U.K. is by no means over. The next stage of negotiation is about defining how the relationship will work in future. Tusk’s statement is a timely reminder that the EU is still an ally and trade partner of the U.K. It is not an enemy, as some British politicians have portrayed it. If trade negotiations are to proceed constructively, the aggressive rhetoric and references to world wars must stop.
But although the EU has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, there is still a major obstacle. The U.K. Parliament must now approve the deal. Currently, it does not appear that the U.K. Parliament has any intention of doing so.
The Withdrawal Agreement was panned by politicians of all colors even before the ink was dry. The opposition Labour Party immediately said it would vote against it, though as it had already signaled that its Members of Parliament (MPs) would vote against any deal the Conservative Government agreed with the EU, this was not exactly a surprise. About 80 MPs in Mrs. May’s own party – both hard-line Brexiters and Remainers - also said they would vote against the deal. And crucially, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), on whose Parliamentary votes the U.K. government depends, rejected it. Unless a significant number of these rebels change their minds, Mrs. May is heading for a resounding defeat.
But what will happen if she is defeated? The EU has already said it will not reopen negotiations. Does this mean a no-deal Brexit?
More at The EU Has Approved Theresa May's Brexit Deal. Now What?
After all the m&d-slinging on both sides, some might be skeptical about Tusk’s vow of eternal friendship. But the EU’s relationship with the U.K. is by no means over. The next stage of negotiation is about defining how the relationship will work in future. Tusk’s statement is a timely reminder that the EU is still an ally and trade partner of the U.K. It is not an enemy, as some British politicians have portrayed it. If trade negotiations are to proceed constructively, the aggressive rhetoric and references to world wars must stop.
But although the EU has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, there is still a major obstacle. The U.K. Parliament must now approve the deal. Currently, it does not appear that the U.K. Parliament has any intention of doing so.
The Withdrawal Agreement was panned by politicians of all colors even before the ink was dry. The opposition Labour Party immediately said it would vote against it, though as it had already signaled that its Members of Parliament (MPs) would vote against any deal the Conservative Government agreed with the EU, this was not exactly a surprise. About 80 MPs in Mrs. May’s own party – both hard-line Brexiters and Remainers - also said they would vote against the deal. And crucially, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), on whose Parliamentary votes the U.K. government depends, rejected it. Unless a significant number of these rebels change their minds, Mrs. May is heading for a resounding defeat.
But what will happen if she is defeated? The EU has already said it will not reopen negotiations. Does this mean a no-deal Brexit?
More at The EU Has Approved Theresa May's Brexit Deal. Now What?
