Brexit: the Second Round of Talks

• 07.21.2017, 20:28
•  Europe,  World

CNBC.com

As a result of the second round of talks on Brexit, the European Union and the UK have failed to reach an agreement. The disagreement is on the issue of ensuring the rights of the UK and EU citizens after their "divorce". After the second round of talks European Union Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier noted: "We maintain serious disagreements on guarantees of respect of EU citizens' rights, as well as on the rights of future family members and their social privileges."

To remind, the UK Prime Minister Theresa May offered 3.2 million to the EU citizens living in the country to apply for receiving a permanent residence permit. But the EU has concerns that in case of London's new status, the EU will not have any guarantees that Britain will not change its migration legislation in the future. 

In addition, the sides have failed to find a solution to the UK's financial obligations towards the EU. The European Union demands from London to pay a bill of up to 100 billion euros, but in London this demand is called "robbery." They insist that such a huge amount is not going to be paid to Brussels.

The parties also did not agree on the issue of the UK’s and Ireland’s borders after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (Ireland is an EU member and Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain).

It should be noted that these issues are the ones, the progress of which will determine further negotiations on bilateral relations between the UK and EU. The parties hope that these issues will be agreed by September.

After the two rounds of negotiations, the sides could not still agree on the positions. However, both the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and the UK negotiator David Davies point out that the negotiations go on in constructive atmosphere. The detailed discussion of the current disagreements is expected during the third round of the talks planned to be held late in August.

It is expected that b y that time there will also be certain consolidation in the British newly elected government, disagreements on which have negative influence on the strength of the London positions in the talks.