The Brexit negotiations: Issues for the first phase

Please note: Each In-Depth Analysis is assigned a DOI (digital object identifier), which is a safe and long term way of ensuring a hyperlink to the full text of this report. However, when ESO creates this record, on occasion the DOI still has not been activated by the EU Bookshop. If you find the source url hyperlink does not work please use the alternative location hyperlink listed as a related url.Negotiations on the arrangements for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU started on 19 June 2017. The European Commission was negotiating on behalf of the EU, on the basis of the European Council guidelines and the mandate given to it by the Council.

The European Parliament, for its part, has laid down key principles and conditions for its approval of a UK withdrawal agreement. Three key priorities are set to dominate the first phase of the negotiations (with the future relationship between the EU and the UK being left to a second phase).

These are:

+ citizens' rights for EU-27 citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU-27
+ the settlement of the UK's financial obligations
+ ensuring the Northern Ireland peace process is not compromised.

This paper looks at the EU negotiating position and the major issues raised under those three priorities to date.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: In-Depth Analysis, June 2017: The Brexit negotiations: Issues for the first phase http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2017/607267/EPRS_IDA(2017)607267_EN.pdf

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

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