The European Parliament adopted by 557 votes to 92 with 29 abstentions a resolution on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom.
The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups.
Progress of the negotiations: Parliament considered that in the fourth round of negotiations, sufficient progress has not yet been made on citizens’ rights, Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the settlement of the United Kingdom’s financial obligations to be able to start the negotiations on the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom. Unless there were to be a major breakthrough in line with the resolution in all three areas during the fifth negotiation round, Parliament called on the European Council, to decide at its October 2017 meeting to postpone its assessment on whether sufficient progress has been made.
The commitments undertaken by the UK Prime Minister in her speech of 22 September 2017 at Florence must translate into tangible changes to the United Kingdom’s position and into concrete proposals accordingly.
Members made the following observations:
Citizens’ rights: the withdrawal agreement must incorporate the full set of rights citizens currently enjoy, such that there is no material change in their position, and it must ensure reciprocity, equity, symmetry and non-discrimination for EU citizens in the United Kingdom and UK citizens in the European Union. In particular, eligible EU national residents and children born after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal should fall within the scope of the withdrawal agreement as family members and not as independent right holders.
Parliament considered that the United Kingdom’s proposals set out in its position paper of 26 June 2017 fall short, not least as regards the proposal to create a new category of ‘settled status’ under United Kingdom immigration law. It also expresses its concern about regrettable administrative practices against EU citizens living in the United Kingdom, reminding the latter, moreover, that while it remains a Member State of the European Union, it must abide by, and enforce, European Union law and refrain from any administrative or other practices which result in obstacles and discrimination for citizens of the EU-27 resident in the United Kingdom.
Members went on to note that the UK Prime Minister’s speech of 22 September 2017 gave a commitment to ensuring that the rights of citizens of the EU-27 residing in the United Kingdom are given direct effect by means of the incorporation of the withdrawal agreement into United Kingdom law. They underlined that this should be done in a manner that prevents it from being changed unilaterally, and gives it primacy over United Kingdom law. The European Court of Justice must remain the sole authority for interpreting and enforcing European Union law and the withdrawal agreement. Members awaited concrete proposals from the United Kingdom in that regard.
Ireland and Northern Ireland: Parliament strongly believed that it is the responsibility of the UK Government to provide a unique, effective and workable solution that prevents a ‘hardening’ of the border, ensures full compliance with the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, is in line with European Union law and fully ensures the integrity of the internal market and customs union. It also believed also that the United Kingdom must continue to contribute its fair share to the financial assistance supporting Northern Ireland/Ireland. It regretted that the United Kingdom’s proposals, set out in its position paper on ‘Northern Ireland and Ireland’, fall short in that regard. Members noted that that the Prime Minister’s speech excluded any physical infrastructure at the border, which presumes that the United Kingdom stays in the internal market and customs union or that Northern Ireland stays in some form in the internal market and customs union.
Financial settlement: Parliament awaited concrete proposals from the UK Government. It reaffirmed that the United Kingdom must respect in full its financial obligations made as a Member State of the European Union and insisted that this issue must be fully settled in the withdrawal agreement.