(28 February 2018) – The European Commission has today published the draft Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
The draft Withdrawal Agreement translates into legal terms the Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on the progress achieved during phase 1 of the negotiations, published on 8 December 2017, and proposes text for those outstanding withdrawal issues which are mentioned in, but not set out in detail, in the Joint Report. It also integrates the text on the transition period.
The draft Withdrawal Agreement consists of six parts – including introductory provisions, citizens’ rights, other separation issues such as goods placed on the market before the withdrawal date, the financial settlement, transitional arrangements, and institutional provisions.
A protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland operationalises the third option outlined in the Joint Report, in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.