BREAKING: EU warns that Britain will not have any decision-making role in the EU's foreign and security policy, despite promises in the Political Declaration of "flexible consultation" and meetings at "ministerial, senior official, and working" level. Report on @rtenews shortly
The warning comes following concerns by Cyprus that any privileged access for the UK to the EU's foreign and security policy would set a precedent for Turkey. It is contained in a letter from the European Council's legal services, seen by @rtenews
The promise to restrict Britain’s involvement is contained in the letter to member states, which declares there will be no “outside interference” in the EU’s decision making process.
The letter, circulated to member states on Friday night, makes it clear that any consultations between the EU and UK on security and defence would be strictly informal, and that no “written documents” could be used to influence the EU’s policy.
Cyprus expressed concerns about promises in the Political Declaration which suggest the UK could be invited to “informal Ministerial meetings” as part of ongoing consultation and dialogue on security and defence issues.
The meetings would be at the invitation of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a post currently held by Federica Mogherini.
The Declaration also says that as part of a “flexible consultation” between the EU and UK in this field, there could also be meetings at ministerial, senior official and “working” level.
However, Cyprus has raised concerns that such cooperation for a third country could set a precedent for Turkey seeking similar access to the EU’s security and defence policy meetings.
In the letter, the European Council’s legal services say they have examined the Political Declaration + concluded that there are “strong guarantees...written in to ensure that the work of the Council and its preparatory bodies is effectively protected from outside interference.”
