As the Brexit deadline looms, negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union have reached a critical point. With just weeks to go before the UK is due to leave the EU, the two sides are still at odds over a number of key issues, including the Irish border, citizens’ rights, and the UK’s financial obligations.
The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29th, 2019, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on the terms of the UK’s withdrawal. The UK government has proposed a “backstop” solution to the Irish border issue, which would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU until a permanent solution is found. However, the EU has rejected this proposal, arguing that it would create a “hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The UK government has also proposed a “transition period”, during which the UK would remain in the EU’s single market and customs union until the end of 2020. This would give the two sides more time to negotiate a permanent trade deal. However, the EU has rejected this proposal, arguing that it would create a “transitional limbo” for the UK.
The two sides have also yet to reach an agreement on citizens’ rights. The UK government has proposed that EU citizens living in the UK should be allowed to stay, but the EU has rejected this proposal, arguing that it would create a “two-tier” system of rights for EU citizens.
Finally, the two sides are still at odds over the UK’s financial obligations. The UK government has proposed that the UK should pay a “divorce bill” of around £39 billion to the EU, but the EU has rejected this proposal, arguing that the UK should pay more.
With just weeks to go before the UK is due to leave the EU, the two sides are still far apart on a number of key issues. If an agreement is not reached soon, the UK could face a “no-deal” Brexit, which would have serious economic and political consequences for both the UK and the EU.
