Thread by @NvOndarza

First impressions on joint report on first phase of #Brexit negotiations:

This is the first real milestone towards orderly Brexit. It should both put political fictions of exit from Brexit & chaotic no deal scenario to bed.

ec.europa.eu/commission/sit…
/1

Substantial agreements are in place for guarantuing citizen's rights, including legal protection for the foreseeable for 8 years after Brexit.

Key is 'reciprocal protection' and avoidance of any unnecessary administrative burdens.
/2

Positive are that necessary details on social security, health care, recognition of qualifications etc. are settled.

Ironically, this includes more access to UK social security for current EU citizens than Camerons renegotiation.
/3

Biggest letdowns on citizen's rights are

that UK citizens will be bound to a 'host country', and not enjoy full rights to move within the EU27

and ECJ jurisdiction is limited to 8 years, while rights are tied to lifetime of current citizens.
/4

On Northern Ireland - key is that UK commits to
- Protecting Good Friday agreement
- Avoid a hard border _on all circumstances_
- regulatory alignment not for NI specifically, but UK as a whole
/5

The interpretation and the follow up on this commitment will decide the final shape of #Brexit.

Expect a lot of negotiations on how to ensure regulatory alignment, and in how far that requires a relationship with the UK basically accepting EU standards and regulations.
/6

Finally, on financial liabilities the UK basically accepted almost all demands from the EU, which it could and should have done much earlier.

But by not naming a precise figure and agreeing to pay over time, the huge 50+bn€ bill has much less political contention.
/7

Overall, this gives the impression of a significant milestone, resolving some of the technically diff issues on citizens and money.

But the real political difficulties, on transition and the future relationship, and the meaning of regulatory alignment, are still to come
/ends