Thread by @StevePeers

1 Some thoughts about the "level playing field" in the UK and EUROPE future relationship - on state aid, tax, labour and environmental law - based on these slides

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2 a) LPF issue not relevant during any transition period as UK will apply EU law
b) after that: current EU negotiation guidelines address LPF only generally. These slides are (for now) Commission thinking, not EU policy

3 A summary of the Commission thinking on these issues. But more details then follow on each area.

4 A summary of how the obligations in any trade agreement (not just EU/UK, but any deal including WTO) are discussed and enforced.

"Taking back control" is only a *relative* concept - ie a *matter of degree* - unless the plan is no trade deals at all

5 Commission wants dispute settlement rules for any LPF clause. The last sentence should read "...in a binding way *for the EU* by the ECJ" (see ECJ opinion 1/92, which accepted the EFTA court could apply EU law in EFTA states)

6 a) the sanctions available in an FTA for breach - all based on existing FTAs
b) the sanctions available in the event of "no deal"
- TDIs refers to measures against subsidies or dumping or economic damage allowed by WTO law
- everything works both ways of course

7 Control of state aids/subsidies under WTO or FTAs (nb Norway model not mentioned - it incorporates EU law)
This issue bigger problem for Labour than Tories - though some argue EU law would not prevent Corbyn plans
Tax, labour, environment issues a bigger prob for Tories though

8 Sorry for Channel tunnel break! The saga continues...

9 Commission: big market access for UK necessitates close alignment with EU state aid law

Nb - no mention in these slides of other EU constraints on state action, or of general competition law

10 Tax: possibility for tax avoidance, less exchange of information. Commission sees a "race to the bottom" risk. Some believe this was the whole point of Brexit for some zillionaires...

11 a) a summary of EU tax relationship with other non-EU states;
b) elements of proposed deal with UK.
Don't open the champagne yet, zillionaires!

12 More details of how to address the tax issue - obviously perceived as very important.

It will be interesting to see how vigorously the current UK government (if it stays in office) goes to bat for the zillionaires...

13 Labour and environmental law. In general Commission sees "race to the bottom" risk again - including on the ECHR

14 Suggested approach: a non-regression clause, like the one Japan agreed too.
The Tories promised no drop in employment law standards derived from EU law, so they should be OK with this...right??

15 Some details - Commission contemplating UK cut in air pollution standards, less enforcement of labour law, TUPE (keeping rights in the event of employer transfer) on the bonfire, trade union rights reduced (though the latter issue is outside the scope of EU law)

16 More on the non-regression clause - and the key environmental standards the Commission wants to ensure

17 The key employment law standards to protect - and ideas on enforcement

18 Overall - obvious EU27 interest in ensuring no "race to the bottom" in return for substantial market access.
Likely broad appeal to Labour, but not Tories - as domestic deregulation agenda would be limited. But hard politically for Tories to admit agenda outright... *fini*