[Brexit Negotiations]: Fourth round of negotiations with European Commission, Brussels, 25-28 September 2017

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 25.09.17
Publication Date 28/09/2017
Content Type

Brexit Negotiations

+ 29 March 2017: The UK triggered Article 50, the process for the start of the negotiations for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

+ 19 June 2017: 1st Round

+ 17-20 July 2017: 2nd Round

+ 28-31 August 2017: 3rd Round

+ 25-28 September 2017: 4th Round

+ 9-12 October 2017: 5th Round

Further negotiating rounds scheduled for September and October 2017 leading up to the European Council, Brussels, 19-20 October 2017 at which the European Commission and EU 27 would decide whether 'sufficient progress' had been made in the first phase of the negotiations to permit a move to a second phase, which would include discussion of topics such as free trade, customs, justice and home affairs issues, and transition arrangements.

Position Papers from the UK Government
During August 2017 the UK published a series of further position papers in advance of the 3rd Round of Negotiations.

The first of these was published on the 15 August 2017 and presented the UK's negotiating position on future customs arrangements between the EU and UK.

The second of these was published on the 16 August 2017 and outlined the UK’s position on addressing the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland and the land border with Ireland.

The third and fourth papers were published on the 21 August 2017 and dealt with Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK and Confidentiality and access to documents.

The fifth position paper was published on the 22 August 2017 and dealt with civil judicial cooperation.

The sixth position paper was published on the 23 August 2017 and dealt with Enforcement and dispute resolution

The seventh position paper was published on the 24 August 2017 and dealt with the exchange and protection of personal data.

The eighth position paper was published on the 6 September 2017 and dealt with Collaboration on science and innovation.

The ninth position paper was published on the 12 September 2017 and discussed options for foreign policy, defence and development collaboration in the proposed future partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The tenth position paper was published on the 18 September 2017. This paper discussed options for maintaining internal security collaboration in the future partnership. The fourth round of negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Commission took place in Brussels between the 25 and 28 September 2017. They were led by David Davis, head of the Department for Exiting the European Union, and Michel Barnier, Chief Negotiator for the European Commission's Taskforce on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom.

There were three negotiating groups covering:

+ citizens’ rights
+ financial settlement
+ other separation issues (such such as Euratom, EU external agreements and dispute resolution).

The issues related to Northern Ireland and the governance of the withdrawal agreement were addressed by the Coordinators.

In the closing speeches on the 3rd round negotiations on the 31 August 2017 both Michel Barnier and David Davis had expressed dissatisfaction and frustration with the lack of progress.

In an attempt to move the negotiations on United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May gave a high profile speech in Florence on the 22 September 2017 in which she attempted to set out how the UK would be the strongest friend and partner to the EU after the country left the EU.

'The EU is keen and eager to understand better how the UK government will translate the PM's speech into negotiating positions', Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator said on the 25 September 2017.

European Council President Donald Tusk met United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street, London on the 26 September 2017 for a meeting to discuss the state of the negotiations for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

After the meeting President Tusk said 'Today I would say there is no 'sufficient progress' yet'. However, he was cautiously optimistic about the constructive and more realistic tone of Prime Minister May in her speech in Florence on the 22 September 2017.

At the end of the fourth round of negotiations on the 28 September 2017 David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, said 'thanks to the constructive and determined manner with which both sides have conducted these negotiations we are making decisive steps forward'.

In his comments Michel Barnier, lead negotiator for the EU, highlighted that while it was agreed that the UK would apply EU law concepts in a manner that was consistent with EU law after Brexit, the two sides failed to agree that the European Court of Justice must play an indispensable role in ensuring this consistency.

He concluded his remarks by saying 'We've had a constructive week – yes – but we are not yet there in terms of achieving sufficient progress'.

Source Link https://www.gov.uk/government/news/programme-for-fourth-round-of-uk-eu-article-50-negotiations
Related Links
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/
United Kingdom: Department for Exiting the European Union: Collection: Article 50 and negotiations with the EU https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/article-50-and-negotiations-with-the-eu
European Commission: Taskforce on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom: Negotiating documents on Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom https://ec.europa.eu/commission/brexit-negotiations/negotiating-documents-article-50-negotiations-united-kingdom_en
Politico, 28.09.17: Brexit talks have been ‘constructive’ says Michel Barnier http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-talks-have-been-constructive-says-michel-barnier-2/
EUObserver, 28.09.17: Progress made in Brexit talks, but not enough https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/139200
Spiegel Online International, 28.09.17: 'Neither a Plan A or a Plan B'. What Strategy is London Pursuing with Brexit Talks? http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/what-strategy-is-london-pursuing-with-brexit-talks-a-1169944.html
EurActiv, 25.09.17: UK enters last-chance Brexit saloon as informal deadline looms http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/uk-enters-last-chance-brexit-saloon-as-informal-deadline-looms/
EUObserver, 25.09.17: Barnier: No transition before Brexit divorce is settled https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/139146
Politico, 25.09.17: Michel Barnier rules out transition talk until Brexit divorce is settled http://www.politico.eu/article/michel-barnier-rules-out-transition-talk-until-brexit-divorce-is-settled/
European Commission: DG Communication: SPEECH/17/3461, 25.09.17: Introductory remarks by Michel Barnier at the press conference following the General Affairs Council (Article 50) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-3461_en.htm
United Kingdom: GOV.UK: Department for Exiting the European Union: News, 28.09.17: David Davis' closing remarks at the end of the fourth round of EU exit negotiations in Brussels https://www.gov.uk/government/news/david-davis-closing-remarks-at-the-end-of-the-fourth-round-of-eu-exit-negotiations-in-brussels
European Commission: SPEECH/17/3547: Press statement by Michel Barnier following the fourth round of Article 50 negotiations with the United Kingdom http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-3547_en.htm
UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Library: Briefing papers CBP-8104: Brexit: the September negotiations http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8104

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