,
6 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
Details have emerged of what David Frost asked for in Brussels yesterday after a briefing of EU27 diplomats by officials from the European Commission. Negotiators believe it amounted to bits of the Withdrawal Agreement crossed out NOT concrete proposals. (1)
The UK wants the backstop radically reduced to include only the articles dealing with citizens rights, the single electricity market and the Common Travel Area. UK wants removal of articles 6-10 and 12 and associated annexes. (2)
There would be general commitment to find operable solutions to the Irish border later, with the details to be agreed by the EU/UK Joint Committee after Brexit. (Along the lines of the PM's letter to Tusk.) (3)
The UK also wants references to the future relationship to be removed from the backstop, which the EU thinks may nullify the Joint Instrument agreed in Strasbourg by Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker earlier this year. (4)
The UK made clear it wants a "best in class" Free Trade Agreement along the lines of the EU/Canada but minus any level playing field commitments and without the dispute resolution mechanism included in the Withdrawal Agreement. (5)
Words being used: "exasperating" and "disastrous." More UK/EU meetings due tomorrow. @MichelBarnier and @SteveBarclay to speak by phone. (6)
