European Commission releases draft Brexit agreement News
European Commission releases draft Brexit agreement

The European Commission on Wednesday released a draft agreement [text, PDF] for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

An accompanying press release [text] credits the Commission’s transparency policy for the draft’s publication and highlights its main points. These include: the length of the transitional period, the status of goods already entered into the common market and the rights of citizens.

One of the most contentious issues still unresolved concerns the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, which remains in the EU. Avoiding a hard border between the two entities on the island of Ireland is the main goal, but the current agreement contains only the fall-back, third-choice option advanced by the parties.

Now, the draft agreement will be submitted for review to the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, the European Council [official website] and other member states. Negotiations will recommence on the issues that remain unresolved. The UK is slated to exit the Union on March, 30, 2019.