1/ It got lost in the Brexit maelstrom yesterday, but the EU Parliament's association agreement resolution championed by @guyverhofstadt is a serious document worthy of some consideration. Here are the rather lengthy highlights. 
2/ Flexibility is the buzzword. An association agreement provides an overall framework within which the UK and EU could thrash out the terms of a unique future relationship. UK talk of a 'special model' rankles in Brussels whereas this is ‘EU language’ as one source explained.
3/ Ireland: An association agreement maintains regulatory alignment with the EU and could include a customs plug-in. It would also entail Britain’s ongoing participation in the PEACE programme.
4/ MEPs sense a whiff of Swiss cheese in May’s proposal for lots of different bilateral systems post-Brexit that they want to snuff out. Brussels would much prefer one overarching governance framework than a nightmarish web of agreements.
5/ 5/ An association agreement would be built around four pillars. These are the same pillars Michel Barnier has mentioned, and also look a lot like the UK Government’s main priority areas.
6/ This also quashes May’s idea of mutual recognition. Points out that even if it were achievable (the EU thinks it isn’t) it still wouldn’t provide the same benefits as Single Market membership.
7/ Free movement: The EU unsurprisingly wants as liberal an immigration system as possible from the UK. But they make it clear this is a British choice - the more you offer, the more we’ll be prepared to give.
8/ Again, Britain is offered a choice on trade. If you’re prepared to stomach some ECJ involvement you can have a DCFTA like Ukraine. If not, you can have a normal FTA that’s a feature of many other association agreements.
9/ Calls for a ‘tuned tariff and quota system’ after Brexit, which sounds a lot like a customs union. But, nowhere does this document rule out the UK getting the kind of input into that system Turkey doesn’t.
10/ To this end, Britain should agree to abide by EU rules on VAT and corporation tax. Brussels is currently mounting a big push back against tax dodging multinationals who could see the UK as a safe haven after Brexit.
11/ The proposals leave the door wide open for the UK to continue participating in a number of EU science, defence and security programmes after Brexit.
12/ And it calls for an immediate replacement for the European Arrest Warrant plus ongoing cooperation with Britain through EU policing bodies like Europe and Eurojust - the UK has asked for all these things.
13/ Then, a huge hint on all this. Yes, Britain will be a third country. But it has ‘geographical proximity and close links’ like no other. Translation: We’re prepared to explore how flexible our rules can be in this area.
14/ Not only has the EU now decided it doesn’t want planes to fall out of the sky, but it’s actually rather keen on working with the UK on common European transport projects in the future.
15/ On fishing, of course they want access to UK waters which will be unpopular. But they stress that it’s not a one way street - our scientists will be involved in defining opportunities and most of the fish landed in British waters are sold to the continent anyway.
16/ Wants to keep us close on cultural, educational and research programmes including Erasmus, where British unis are by far the most popular destination. Only proviso is we don’t get out in grants more than we pay in.
17/ Wants the UK to continue working with Europe on the fight against global warming. Given Michael Gove and the Commission are currently involved in a legislative arms race to see who can be the most green, don’t think this will be an issue.
18/ Stresses the ECJ must be the ultimate arbiter of EU law. But look - more flexibility. The ECJ’s role will be ‘commensurate’ with the level of access the UK wants. On non-EU law, there will be a new independent dispute settlement system.
19/ Again on the Level Playing Field it’s up to Britain - the more you accept, the more we give. Hammers home the taxation point again. And look - the UK gets to set up its own authority to enforce the implementation of it.
20/ Legally UK can’t be members of EU agencies like Europol after Brexit. But immediately stresses there are ways for it to contribute to individual bits of them. Friendly prod to the Commission referencing the next MFF - ‘we’re cash-strapped guys, let’s not be stupid here’.
21/ Reiterates the parliament’s ‘strong opposition’ to British attempts to treat citizens arriving during the transition differently. The UK has caved 95% on this already and Member States are likely to accept our offer, but MEPs are holding out for the final 5%.
22/ And finally (I hear you all sigh with relief) it mirrors the Council’s soft line on Britain being able to negotiate and sign trade deals during the transition. They just can’t become active until after that period is over.
23/ Credit where it's due. The EU Parliament gets a lot of stick from journalists including me, and frankly it merits most of it. But this is a well thought out, well formulated and well presented contribution to the Brexit debate and deserves to be treated as such.
