Thread by @StevePeers

A quick thread on where we stand with EU conclusion of the Brexit deal, based on internal unpublished Council documents.

Tomorrow morning Member States' representatives meet to agree the text on the decision to conclude the treaty. They will be revising the Commission proposal on this.

There's also a batch of agreed statements about how the Brexit deal will be implemented on the EU side.

This agreed decision will then be sent to the European Parliament for consent. It's explicit that an extension of the period to approve the treaty on the EU side is "inevitable".

An extension of the 28 February deadline to approve the treaty can be approved by the Partnership Council, ie representatives of the UK and EU. The Commission has to propose a Council position on this. Note the irritated tone of the Council document on this.

The Commission *might* have tabled this proposal today, but it's not public yet.

More on the EU internal discussions re the Brexit deal. Here's the first of four agreed statements - on the Member States closely watching the Commission's role implementing the deal, and possibly suggesting that it start the dispute settlement process re the UK.

The second agreed statement re EU implementation of the Brexit deal is about the Commission keeping an eye on alleged breaches by the UK, especially re the level playing field.

Third statement on EU implementation of the Brexit deal concerns 🐟 negotiations.* Member States will keep the Commission on a short leash.

*distant sound of John Redwood exploding

Final statement on EU implementation of the Brexit deal. The Commission will keep an eye on whether the UK treats Member States equally.

Something for the cross border civil litigators. The UK has officially left the Brussels and Rome Conventions on civil jurisdiction and choice of law. (It has necessarily also left the EU legislation which replaced these treaties). Cc @GAVClaw

NEW - Commission proposes that EU/UK Partnership Council agree to extend provisional application of Brexit deal to April 30

Main text - ec.europa.eu/transparency/r…

Text of proposed decision - ec.europa.eu/transparency/r…

As explained further up the thread, the proposal must a) be agreed by the Council (EU Member States) as the EU negotiation position; b) be agreed between EU and UK at a Partnership Council meeting

a) seems likely in light of Council views in the docs - not sure about b)...