Welcome progress but questions remain
Brexit transition
Michel Barnier, chief negotiator for the European Union, right, gestures towards David Davis, UK exiting the European Union secretary, during a news conference following Brexit talks in Brussels on Monday. Photograph: Bloomberg
The agreement in Brussels on the terms of a transition period after the UK leaves the EU is welcome. A transition period – a kind of stand-still in many areas after the UK leaves which will last until December 2020 – would provide time to push ahead with negotiations on the future trading and political relationship between the EU and the UK after Brexit. It would also give businesses more time to prepare and remove the threat of a major economic shock early next year.
As the remaining EU member most exposed to Brexit, these are particularly important issues for Ireland. A transition period would remove the threat of the UK crashing out of the EU in March 2019 with no deal. However, it is also important to remember that the agreement on the transition is contingent on a final sign-off of the withdrawal text – and here some issues remain. Notable among these is the Irish Border.