The Brexit Agreement

The leaders of the 27 EU Member States on Sunday voted the Brexit withdrawal agreement as well as a declaration defining post-Brexit relations with London

Corina Cristea, 26.11.2018, 12:47

EU leaders met in Brussels for an extraordinary summit and accepted the terms of Great Britains withdrawal from the European Union and adopted a political declaration defining the EUs forthcoming relations with London. This marks a crucial step after 17 months of negotiations and two years after Britons voted in a referendum to break with the community they have been a part of for nearly half a century.

There is no winner to this deal, EU leaders say, highlighting the agreement is the best version, one which is fair and balanced for all. I believe we have created a diplomatic work of art, Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel said, referring to the document that lays the foundation for an “orderly divorce. The German official went on to say that the remaining 27 Member States will have a close relationship with Great Britain. This is a serious moment for the Union, French President Emmanuel Macron said, saying that Brexit shows the EUs fragility and need to redefine itself.

Although Brexit is only months away, there are still very difficult stages to cover. Prime Minister Theresa May is faced with powerful opposition, including in her own party. The Labour Party as well as Northern Irelands Unionist Party, a ruling coalition partner, have announced they would vote against Mays Brexit deal in the British Parliament, which complicates things significantly. Faced with rising criticism in Parliament, the Prime Minister presented the Brexit deal to the wide public, saying that its purpose is to please both the supporters and the opponents of the UKs leaving the community bloc. Prime Minister May says that next Marchs Brexit will be a moment of renewal and reconciliation for her country.

In Brussels, despite skepticism voiced by British MEPs, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed confidence that the British Parliament will endorse the agreement.

The text of the agreement is of paramount importance, because it also stipulates the manner in which Romanian citizens residing in the UK will be treated, President Klaus Iohannis has said: “If it takes effect, the agreement will protect Romanians and all the other Europeans in Great Britain. Their current rights will be guaranteed. They will be able to work, study and earn their pensions. We were adamant about these things and succeeded in making sure that they are all clarified in this phase. We also insisted that the upcoming political declaration makes no discrimination between member states.

For instance, one demand is that Britain should apply no visa requirements to Romanians who want to subsequently travel to the United Kingdom.