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BREXIT
BRIEF
Brexit Brief Issue 81
20 February 2020
Introduction
The Brief seeks to provide up-to-date information on the progress and content of the UK-EU
negotiations, and bring together relevant statements and policy positions from key players in
Ireland, the UK and EU.
The Brief is part of a wider communications programme covering the work of the IIEA’s UK
Project Group – including commentaries, speeches, texts and event reports – which are
highlighted on the Institute’s website. (www.iiea.com)
Section One: State of Play will have recovered in full its economic and
political independence.”
The Future Relationship between the
UK and the EU, 3 February 2020 The question for the rest of 2020 is whether
the UK and the EU can agree a deeper
On 3 February 2020, the UK Government
trading relationship on the lines of the Free
set out the initial elements of its proposed
Trade Agreement the EU has with Canada, or
approach to the negotiations with the
whether the relationship will be based simply
European Union about the future relationship.
on the Withdrawal Agreement deal agreed
in October 2019, including the Protocol on
The document indicated the UK Government’s
Northern Ireland / Ireland. In either event the
wish to see a future relationship “based
UK will be leaving the Single Market and the
on friendly cooperation between sovereign
Customs Union at the end of this year and
equals for the benefit of all our peoples”.
stakeholders should prepare for that reality.
The UK Government also expressed its belief
that “complete certainty” would be brought
The UK Government indicated a desire to
about by the end of the transition period on
achieve “a balanced agreement” that is “in the
31 December 2020, at which point “the UK
interests of both sides”. Any such agreement,
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however, ought to “respect the sovereignty of agreement on security, on protecting
both parties and the autonomy of our legal our citizens without trespassing on the
orders.” In the UK’s assessment, therefore, it autonomy of our respective legal systems.
could not include “any regulatory alignment,
any jurisdiction for the CJEU over the UK’s European Commission
laws, or any supranational control in any area, Recommendation, 3 February 2020
including the UK’s borders and immigration
On the same day, 3 February 2020,
policy.”
the European Commission published its
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Speech Recommendation for a Council Decision
at Greenwich, 3 February 2020 authorising the opening of negotiations for a
new partnership with the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched the
Government’s Future Relationship document in The partnership envisaged by the Commission
the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College reflects both the conclusions and guidelines
at Greenwich, lauding Thornhill’s “gorgeous of the European Council, and seeks to build
and slightly bonkers” ceiling painting which on the Political Declaration. The envisaged
celebrated “the settlement of a long and partnership is a single package that comprises
divisive political question.” He addressed the three main components:
UK’s aim for a trade agreement with the EU,
(i) general arrangements (including
and referenced other issues to be agreed in
provisions on basic values and principles
the future relationship, such as security:
and on governance);
We have made our choice: we want a
(ii) economic arrangements (including
comprehensive free trade agreement,
provisions on trade and level playing field
similar to Canada’s. But in the very unlikely
guarantees); and
event that we do not succeed, then our
trade will have to be based on our existing (iii) security arrangements (including
Withdrawal Agreement with the EU. provisions on law enforcement and judicial
cooperation in criminal matters, as well as
The choice is emphatically not ‘deal or
on foreign policy, security and defence).
no-deal’. We have a deal – we’ve done it
and yes it did turn out as I prophesized to The Commission views this envisaged
be oven ready. The question is whether partnership as being premised on “the
we agree a trading relationship with the recognition that prosperity and security are
EU comparable to Canada’s – or more enhanced by the rules-based international
like Australia’s. And I have no doubt that order, defending individual rights and the rule
in either case the UK will prosper. of law, high standards of protection of workers’
and consumers’ rights and of the environment,
And of course our new relationship with
the fight against climate change, and free and
our closest neighbours will range far
fair trade.”
beyond trade. We will seek a pragmatic
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The scope of the partnership envisaged in digital trade, intellectual property
this recommendation is to be comprehensive, and access to our respective public
in line with the conclusions of the European procurement markets.
Council of 13 December 2019. It covers
all areas of interest outlined in the Political Given the proximity and economic inter-
Declaration: “trade and economic cooperation, dependence between the UK and the EU, Mr
law enforcement and judicial cooperation in Barnier signalled that the above would be
criminal matters, foreign policy, security and contingent upon the following two factors:
defence, participation in Union programmes
First, we need to make sure competition
and thematic areas of cooperation.”
is – and remains – open and fair. We
Throughout this process, the Commission have already agreed with Prime Minister
aims to preserve the “autonomy of the Union’s Johnson that our future partnership will
decision-making and its legal order, the integrity prevent ‘unfair competitive advantages’.
of its single market and the Customs Union We must now agree on specific and
and the indivisibility of the four freedoms.” effective guarantees to ensure a level
It will also work to ensure the protection of playing field over the long term. That
the Union’s financial interests and reflect the means mechanisms to uphold the
United Kingdom’s status as a “non-Schengen high standards we have on social,
third country”, which cannot have the same environmental, climate, tax and state
rights and benefits as would a member. aid matters, today and in their future
developments.
Michel Barnier Statement at the
Presentation of the Commission Second, our free trade agreement must
Recommendation, 3 February 2020 include an agreement on fisheries. This
agreement should provide for continued
Speaking at the launch of the Commission reciprocal access to markets, and to
Recommendation, Michel Barnier, Head of the waters, with stable quota shares. If we
Commission Task Force for Relations with the can agree on this, as well as on robust
United Kingdom (UKTF) said: commitments towards a level playing
field and the necessary enforcement
We are ready to offer a highly ambitious mechanisms, we will achieve a very
trade deal as the central pillar of this ambitious free and fair trade agreement.”
partnership, including: Zero tariffs and
zero quotas on all goods entering our European Parliament Resolution on
single market of 450 million people; the Proposed Mandate
An ambitious free trade agreement in
services, with wide sectoral coverage, On 11 February 2020, the European
ranging from business services to Parliament adopted – by 543 votes to 39, with
telecommunications or environmental 69 abstentions – a Resolution setting out the
services. We are also looking to include parliament’s position on the proposed mandate
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for negotiations for a new partnership with the Council of Europe, as well as respect for
United Kingdom. The Resolution underlined the principle of the rule of law,
the Parliament’s determination to establish as
close a relationship as possible with the UK. (vi) a level playing field, ensuring
However, it noted that that such a relationship equivalent standards in social, labour,
will necessarily be different from that enjoyed environmental, competition and state
by the UK as a Member State of the EU, and aid policies, including through a robust
as a result will need to adhere to the following and comprehensive framework on
competition and state aid control,
principles:
(vii) the precautionary principle, the
(i) a third country must not have the
principle that environmental damage
same rights and benefits as a Member
should as a priority be rectified at source
State of the EU, or a member of the
and the ‘polluter pays’ principle,
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
or European Economic Area (EEA),
(viii) safeguarding of EU agreements
with third countries and international
(ii) protection of the full integrity and
organisations, including the EEA
correct functioning of the single market,
Agreement, and maintaining the overall
the customs union and indivisibility of
balance of these relationships,
the four freedoms, and in particular the
degree of cooperation in the economic (ix) safeguarding of the financial stability
pillar should be commensurate to the of the EU and compliance with its
freedom of movement of people; regulatory and supervisory regime and
standards and their application,
(iii) preservation of the autonomy of the
EU’s decision-making, (x) a right balance of rights and
obligations, including, where appropriate,
(iv) safeguarding of the EU legal order
commensurate financial contributions
and the role of the Court of Justice of the
European Union (CJEU) in this respect, Speech by Commission President von
der Leyen in European Parliament, 11
(v) continued adherence to democratic
February 2020
principles, human rights and fundamental
freedoms, as defined in particular in In the Parliament debate on 11 February 2020,
the United Nations (UN) Universal the President of the European Commission,
Declaration of Human Rights, the Ursula von der Leyen, addressed the key
European Convention on Human Rights elements of the Resolution:
and Fundamental Freedoms and its
Protocols, the European Social Charter, And when we agreed the Political
the Rome Statute on the International Declaration with the United Kingdom, we
Criminal Court and other international ambitioned a zero tariffs and a zero quotas
human rights treaties of the UN and the trade relation for all goods. Something
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we have never ever before offered to revealed a situation in which the two sides
anybody else. A new model of trade, a will enter the formal talks process – in early
unique ambition in terms of access to the March following Council adoption of the EU
Single Market. But of course, this would talks mandate – seriously at cross purposes.
require corresponding guarantees on fair
competition and the protection of social, Michel Barnier told the European Parliament
environmental and consumer standards. that UK access to the Single Market would
In short: This is plain and simply the involve strict conditions in respect of adherence
level playing field. to EU rules and standards and acceptance of a
continuing role for the European Commission
And honestly, I was a little bit surprised and the European Court of Justice in monitoring
to hear the Prime Minister of the United adherence in sensitive areas such as State
Kingdom speak about the Australian Aids and subsidy restrictions.
model. Australia, without any doubt, is
a strong and a likeminded partner. But Prime Minister Johnson made it clear that the
the European Union does not have a UK sees these conditions as unjustified, arguing
trade agreement with Australia. We are that there is no need for any agreement to
currently trading on WTO terms. And if involve acceptance of EU rules “on competition
this is the British choice, we are fine with policy, subsidies, social protection, the
that – without any question. But in fact, environment or anything similar.” Britain, he
we are just in the moment where we are insisted, wants a trade deal that is similar
agreeing with Australia that we must end to that between the EU and Canada or, in
this situation, and we work on a trade deal the absence of a Canada arrangement, the
with them. Of course, the UK can decide alternative model of Australia.
to settle for less. But I personally believe
The Financial Times columnist Wolfgang
that we should be way more ambitious.
Munchau summed up the tension evident
I have heard ambition in Boris Johnson’s between the positions of the two actors: the
speech. Ambition on minimum wages EU “does not seek to maximise the flow of
and parental payments. And he has an trade,” he wrote, but instead to prevent the
ally in me, where that is concerned. I UK from “exploiting regulatory divergence.”
have heard ambition on cutting carbon Simultaneously, the UK seeks not to maximise
emissions. Ambition on guaranteeing that trade, “but to seek the fullest amount of
our firms are competing in full fairness. regulatory independence.” Mr Munchau goes
This is what we also want. Let us formally on to state that “the problem with the two
agree on these objectives.” drafts is thus not that they disagree on fish,
say, but that they disagree on what they are
Starting Negotiations negotiating. The EU wants to keep the UK in.
The UK wants to keep the EU out.”
Statements accompanying the publication
of the initial negotiation papers by the UK
Government and the Commission have
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Northern Ireland Protocol The main differences centre on the role of
the Joint Committee – made up of European
As the UK and EU move towards formal Commissioners on the EU side, and cabinet
negotiations on their future relationship, ministers on the UK side, backed up by a
attention is increasingly directed to the Specialist Committee of senior officials from
arrangements for the future of the island of both sides.
Ireland contained in the Protocol on Ireland /
Northern Ireland in the Withdrawal Agreement. Tony Connolly writes that according to a
number of EU officials and diplomats, there is
RTÉ’s Brussels Editor, Tony Connelly, wrote a misunderstanding on the UK side about the
that as both parties continue to prepare for scope of the Joint Committee.
trade negotiations, there are signals that “all
is not well when it comes to implementing To the EU, the Joint Committee has two
the divorce part of Brexit [the Withdrawal roles: it makes sure there is a regime in
Agreement], in particular the Irish Protocol.” place to do the checking and monitoring,
The Protocol must be implemented in including the development of IT systems
conjunction with trade talks and will take effect and databases. The second role is to work
on 1 January 2021. It is now clear, according out what goods, or categories of goods,
to Mr Connolly, that there is “a real difference are deemed not at risk of crossing the
of opinion” in how it ought to be implemented. land border into the single market. Once
that distinction is made, those goods may
The Protocol is designed to ensure that there enjoy a tariff exemption or rebate. This will
is no hard border on the island of Ireland. involve a system of checks and controls.
Northern Ireland is to remain in the UK’s
customs territory, but apply EU customs law, EU sources suspect the UK regards these
thereby effectively remaining in the Single arrangements as ‘a moveable feast’, depending
Market for goods. This means that goods on the outcome of the Free Trade Agreement
travelling across the Irish Sea from Great negotiations. They suspect that the UK sees the
Britain to Northern Ireland will be subject role of the Joint Committee as a means to row
to tariffs, regulatory checks and controls. In back on the reality of customs and regulatory
cases where there is deemed to be no risk of formalities. They refer to an annexe to the
the goods continuing on over the land border New Decade, New Approach paper, in which
to the Republic of Ireland and therefore into the UK promises “we will aim to negotiate with
the EU Single Market, then either a tariff the European Union additional flexibilities and
exemption, or rebates, will be applied. sensible practical measures across all aspects
of the Protocol that are supported by business
“That’s putting it at its simplest.” Tony Connolly groups in Northern Ireland and maximise the
commented. “But that has to be converted into free flow of trade.”
something that is legally clear and watertight
for businesses, politicians and consumers. It The EU insists that the “practical measures”
will, indeed, be a challenging new regime.” have already been negotiated and are legally
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binding under the Withdrawal Agreement. Just 1 per cent said Brexit would influence their
EU officials argue that the Joint Committee is voting decision, compared with 32 per cent for
not a forum for renegotiating the Withdrawal health services and 26 per cent for housing
Agreement. policy. A Fine Gael canvasser commented:
“There is a lot of goodwill and thanks on the
Mr Connolly’s article also referred to a doorstep for Brexit, but voters have priced it
recent session of the House of Lords in as yesterday’s news.”
European Union Committee which devoted
90 minutes to questioning three eminent Northern Ireland Secretary Dismissed
legal and constitutional witnesses about the
tangled complexities of the Protocol. One The Northern Ireland Secretary, Julian Smith,
witness noted the complexity of the relevant who had played a key role in the restoration
relationships affected by the Protocol: “We’re of the Stormont Assembly and Executive, was
not just dealing with this Protocol. The Protocol the first minister to be sacked by Prime Minister
interfaces with the Good Friday Agreement, it Boris Johnson in his Cabinet reshuffle. He was
interfaces with the Common Travel Area with replaced by the former Tory Party Chairman,
Ireland, it will interface with WTO rules, it will, Brandon Lewis.
in the future, interface with the Free Trade
On his arrival in Belfast, within hours of his
Agreement (FTA) between the UK and EU.”
appointment, Brandon Lewis stated that there
Another commented that Northern Ireland
will be no border between Great Britain and
was now “at the centre of a very complicated
Northern Ireland. “We are absolutely clear.
and convoluted Venn diagram. It is the space
As a UK government we will not be having
in which the EU’s single market and the UK’s
a border down the Irish Sea.” This position
internal market are going to overlap”.
is firmly contradicted by EU officials who
Section Two: The Evolving Debate say such controls are clearly set out in the
Withdrawal Agreement, which came into force
Brexit not an issue in General Election as an international treaty on 1 February. EU
Campaign sources suspect the UK regards the Irish Sea
arrangements as a moveable feast, depending
Brexit barely figured as an election issue on the final shape of the Free Trade Agreement
despite the efforts of Fine Gael to make the negotiations.
Government’s performance in the lengthy
withdrawal negotiations a central element of The sacking of Julian Smith as NI Secretary
the election debate. Even the continuing risk was met in Ireland, North and South with
of a no-deal crash at the end of the year – with a reaction of surprise, bemusement and a
the widely recognised economic implications of degree of anger. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
such an outcome –failed to excite voters. In the paid warm tribute stating that Mr Smith was
event, Brexit came joint last, with immigration, “one of Britain’s finest politicians of our time”.
in a list of ten issues cited by respondents to Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that without
the extensive Ipsos/MRBI exit poll. Mr Smith’s leadership he did not believe
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Stormont would have been restored. SDLP are still lobbying the government to break
leader Colum Eastwood said the dismissal was the promises it made in the general election.”
a “strategic error” while the DUP First Minister The Prime Minister, and other ministers, have
Arlene Foster contacted Mr Smith after his urged business representatives to accept that
dismissal to wish him well and to “thank him the UK will diverge from the Brussels rule book
for getting devolution restored”. The Alliance after the end of the transition period and that
leader Naomi Long said she was “hugely there will be new trade friction at EU borders.
disappointed to see a truly engaged secretary
of state of Northern Ireland removed from On the same day, political journalists walked
office at a time when continuity is needed out of No 10 Downing Street in protest at the
around a still fragile political agreement”. Government’s decision to provide a briefing
on EU matters only to selected reporters,
A Bridge banning a range of papers and websites –
including The Mirror, the Independent and
A Downing Street spokesman has confirmed Huffington Post - from attending. Among
that “Government officials are carrying those who walked out were senior journalists
out work in relation to the idea of a bridge from the BBC and ITV, Daily Mail, Telegraph,
linking Scotland to Northern Ireland. There Guardian and Financial Times.
is a proper piece of work being carried out
into the idea. It is reporting into Number 10.” Section Three: Background
Boris Johnson had raised the possibility of Material and Further Reading
building the bridge in the Conservative Party
leadership campaign, apparently ignoring the Background Material
scepticism of engineers at the idea of building
GOV.UK The Future Relationship between the
a bridge over waters more than 300 metres
UK and the EU, 3 February 2020. https://www.
deep in places, under which at least a million
gov.uk/government/speeches/the-future-
tons of obsolete World War II munitions had
relationship-between-the-uk-and-the-eu
been dumped by the UK Defence Ministry.
GOV.UK PM Speech in Greenwich, 3 February
CBI snubbed / Media excluded
2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/
The Confederation of British Industry, speeches/pm-speech-in-greenwich-3-
the Institute of Directors and the British february-2020
Chambers of Commerce were not included
European Commission Recommendation
in the 75 invitations to the Prime Minister’s
for a Council Decision authorising the opening
Greenwich speech on the EU-UK talks on
of negotiations for a new partnership with
future relationships. Explaining the calculated
the United Kingdom, 3 February 2020.
snub, an ally of the Prime Minister said that
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/
these groups were excluded because “they are
communication-annex-negotiating-directives.pdf
not doing their duty to prepare their members
for the upcoming realities” and because “they
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European Commission Speech by Financial Times Brexit: Barnier rebuffs UK
President von der Leyen in the European pitch for ‘permanent equivalence’ in financial
Parliament debate on the Commission’s services. FT, 12 February 2020. https://www.
proposal for a mandate for the negotiation of ft.com/content/34ab4fb8-4cbc-11ea-95a0-
a new partnership with the United Kingdom, 43d18ec715f5
11 February 2020. https://ec.europa.
eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ Irish Times Von der Leyen ‘surprised’ at UK
SPEECH_20_230 suggestion of Australia-style EU relationship.
IT, 12 February 2020. https://www.irishtimes.
European Parliament Motion for a com/news/world/europe/von-der-leyen-
Resolution to wind up the debate on the surprised-at-uk-suggestion-of-australia-style-
proposed mandate for negotiations for a eu-relationship-1.4170298
new partnership with the United Kingdom,
7 February 2020. https://www.europarl. Financial Times Britain and the EU
europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0098_ are negotiating at cross purposes. FT,
EN.html 15 February 2020. https://www.ft.com/
content/7a092804-49c0-11ea-aee2-
The Guardian UK will refuse close alignment 9ddbdc86190d
with EU rules, Johnson to say. Guardian, 2
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com/politics/2020/feb/02/uk-refuse-close- No 10 briefing after PM’s aide tries to ban
alignment-eu-rules-boris-johnson-trade selected reporters. Guardian, 3 February
2020. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/
The Telegraph Post-Brexit Britain may face live/2020/feb/03/brexit-news-boris-johnson-
friction but it will be a worthwhile trade- speech-barnier-cabinet-ministers-claims-uk-
off. Telegraph, 3 February 2020. https:// does-not-need-trade
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/02/03/
post-brexit-britain-may-face-friction-will- The Observer Europe’s British question:
worthwhile-trade how will the EU’s big powers play the next
phase? Observer, 5 February 2020. https://
Financial Times UK and EU begin sparring www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/
with bruising talk ahead. FT, 2 February 2020. feb/05/europe-british-brexit-uk-eu
https://www.ft.com/content/086562a6-
45e4-11ea-aee2-9ddbdc86190d The Observer The EU won’t fix its democratic
deficit with another top-down ‘conference’.
The Guardian The Guardian view on a Observer, 21 January 2020. https://www.
Brexit trade deal: tricky but not impossible. theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/
Guardian, 12 February 2020. https://www. jan/21/eu-democratic-deficit-top-down-
theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/ conference-verhofstadt
feb/12/the-guardian-view-on-a-brexit-trade-
deal-tricky-but-not-impossible
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Timothy Garton Ash We remainers must now Politico Brexit bad blood is back. Politico,
aim for Britain to do well – and the EU even 5 February 2020. https://www.politico.eu/
better. Observer, 31 January 2020. https:// article/uk-transition-brexit-bad-blood-is-
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/ back-boris-johnson-dominic-raab-donald-
jan/31/remainers-britain-eu-brexit tusk
New Statesman Charles Grant. How the Financial Times Johnson’s free trade vision
EU can survive Brexit. New Statesman, 7-13 hits familiar sticking points. FT, 4 February 2020.
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com/world/europe/2020/02/how-eu-can- 46a4-11ea-aee2-9ddbdc86190d
survive-brexit
The Guardian Boris Johnson is about to
The Guardian UK alignment on EU standards find out just how weak the UK is after Brexit.
price to pay for trade deal, say MEPs. Guardian, Guardian, 3 February 2020. https://www.
12 February 2020. https://www.theguardian. theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/
com/politics/2020/feb/12/uk-alignment-on- feb/03/boris-johnson-weak-brexit-uk
eu-standards-price-to-pay-for-trade-deal-
say-meps Politico 5 potential clashes in the next phase
of Brexit talks. Politico, 4 February 2020.
The Telegraph EU seeks power to suspend https://www.politico.eu/article/5-potential-
any deals it makes with Britain over Brexit. clashes-in-the-next-phase-of-brexit-talks
Telegraph, 10 February 2020. http://www.
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/02/10/eu- RTE EU, UK to set out different demands ahead of
wants-power-freeze-post-brexit-uk-eu-deals- trade talks. RTE, 3 February 2020. https://www.
punishment rte.ie/news/brexit/2020/0203/1112713-
brexit-trade-negotiations
Financial Times The UK is about to shoot
itself in both feet. FT, 5 February 2020. https:// Financial Times Young Britons fear for their
www.ft.com/content/de2a1e52-4677-11ea- post-Brexit future. FT, 7 February 2020.
aee2-9ddbdc86190d https://www.ft.com/content/b8b7ee96-
41a0-11ea-a047-eae9bd51ceba
Financial Times Boris Johnson steps up
campaign against business lobby. FT, 4 Irish Times Johnson will get his Brexit deal.
February 2020. https://www.ft.com/content/ IT, 6 February 2020. https://www.irishtimes.
b61d4664-46b8-11ea-aee2-9ddbdc86190d com/opinion/how-johnson-will-get-his-brexit-
deal-1.4163835
Irish Times Boris Johnson’s swagger unlikely
to survive Brexit trade talks. IT, 4 February Financial Times How the Brexit deal can
2020. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ be done. FT, 6 February 2020. https://www.
world/uk/boris-johnson-s-swagger-unlikely- fy.com/content/883d2044-4806-11ea-aeb3-
to-survive-brexit-trade-talks-1.4160544 955839e06441
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Hansard Secretary of State for Financial Times City groups set out
International Trade. Free Trade Agreements, vision for post-Brexit market access. FT,
6 February 2020. https://www.hansard. 13 February 2020. https://www.ft.com/
parliament.uk/Commons/2020-02-06/ content/58e57ec4-4da4-11ea-95a0-
debates/20020615000014/ 43d18ec715f5
FreTradeAgreements
Tony Connelly EU and UK are poles apart
RTE UK seeks big tariff reductions in US trade on the Irish Protocol. RTE, 15 February
deal. RTE, 6 February 2020. https://www.rte. 2020. https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-
ie/news/business/2020/0206/1113525-uk- and-comment/2020/0214/1115389-north-
us-trade-deal protocol-brexit
The Telegraph How Boris Johnson’s Tommy Gorman The short reign of Citizen
reshuffle could mean a major clash with the Smith. RTE, 16 February 2020. https://www.
EU is looking. Telegraph, 14 February 2020. rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0215/1115495-
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/2020/02/14/ julian-smith/
boris-johnsons-reshuffle-could-mean-major-
clash-eu-looming Irish Times Surprise and anger following
sacking of Julian Smith as Northern
Financial Times John Major warns rushed Secretary. IT, 15 February 2020. https://
UK-EU trade deal will be ‘flimsy’. FT, 13 www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/surprise-
February 2020. https://www.ft.com/content/ and-anger-following-sacking-of-julian-smith-
dd9b1d66-4de2-11ea-95a0-43d18ec715f5 as-northern-secretary-1.4172938
Centre for European Policy Studies The Fintan O’Toole Safety-first politics has had
Other Side of the Brexit Coin, January 2020. its day. IT, 21 January 2020. https://www.
https://www.ceps.eu/the-other-side-of-the- irishtimes.com/opinion/intan-o-toole-safety-
brexit-coin first-politics-has-its-day-1.4145605
Chatham House In Next Round of EU Irish Times Irish fishing industry backs
Negotiations, Britain Faces Familiar Pitfalls, 31 EU tying fishing rights to trade deal. IT, 4
January 2020. https://www.chathamhouse.
February 2020. https://www.irishtimes.com/
org/expert/comment/next-round-eu-
business/irish-fishing-industry-backs-eu-
negotiations-britain-faces-familiar-pitfalls
tying-fishing-rights-to-trade-deal-1.4160670
European Policy Centre No good Brexit,
Irish Times Northern Ireland-Scotland
31 January 2020. https://www.epc.eu/en/
bridge being considered by British officials.
Publications/No -good-Brexit-2e4f78
IT, 11 February 2020. https://www.
Federal Trust Scotland’s Shifting Politics in irishtimes,com/news/world/uk/northen-
the Face of Brexit, 14 February 2020. https:// ireland-scotland-bridge-being-considered-by-
fedtrust.co.uk/scotlands-shifting-politics-in- british-officials-1.4168471
the-face-of-brexit
BREXIT BRIEF 081 | FEB 2020BREXIT
BRIEF
Simon Carswell Don’t mention the B-word: RTE UK Government will not have a
Brexit barely figures as an election issue. IT, border in the Irish Sea – Lewis. RTE,
10 February 2020. https://www.irishtimes. 14 February 2020. https://www.rte.ie/
com/news/politics/don-t-mention-the-b- news/2020/0214/1115361-brandon-lewis
word-brexit-barely-figures-as-an-election-
issue-1.4167398 The Guardian What does the Irish election
result mean for Brexit? Guardian, 10 February
The Guardian British nationals working in 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/
Brussels snap up Irish passports. Guardian, world/2020/feb/10/irish-election-resilt-brexit-
12 February 2020. https://www.theguardian. sinn-fein-coalition-boris-johnson-eu
com/politics/2020/feb/12/british-nationals-
working-in-brussels-snap-up-irish-passports Irish Times New Northern Secretary commits
to legacy aspects of deal. IT, 16 February
Irish Times No clarity in Brexit deal on how 2020. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/
Irish Sea border will work, UK peers told. IT, politics/new-northern-secretary-commits-to-
12 February 2020. https://www.irishtimes. legacy-aspects-of-deal-1.4174314
com/news/politics/no-clarity-in-brexit-deal-
on-how-irish-sea-border-will-work-uk-peers- Irish Times Irish economy in good stead as
told-1.4170864 no-deal Brexit fears recede – commission. IT,
13 February 2020. https://www.irishtimes.
Irish Times Irish Reunification now on the com/business/economy/irish-economy-in-
table, former Foreign Office head says. IT, good-stead-as-no-deal-brexit-fears-recede-
11 February 2020. https://www.irishtimes. commission-1.4172552
com/news/ireland/irish-reunification-now-
on-the-table-former-foreign-office-head-
says-1.4170336
Further Reading
Tony Connelly Data and Privacy will be
Barrett Gavin The Evolving Role of National
Brexit battlegrounds. IT, 8 February 2020.
Parliaments in the European Union. Manchester
https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-
University Press
comment/2020/0207/1113876-brexit-
connelly-analysis/
Patrick Smyth Irish economy performing well
but Brexit uncertainty remains, commission
warns. IT, 13 February 2020. https://
www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/
irish-economy-performing-well-but-brexit-
uncertainty-remains-commission-warns
-1.4172552
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