TUC: May should accept EU offer of ‘bridge’ to avoid cliff-edge

3 Apr 2017 11:32 AM

Commenting on the draft guidelines published today (Friday) by the Council of the European Union on the EU’s principles and approach to Brexit negotiations, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The EU has made an important offer of a ‘bridge’ to stop the UK falling off a cliff edge if negotiations for a new trade deal take longer than two years.

“The Prime Minister should accept this offer, as it is the best way to make sure that British jobs and businesses are not put in danger.

“It would safeguard working people’s rights and keep Britain free from tariffs and additional bureaucracy until a new trade deal between the UK and EU is made. And it will allow the Prime Minister to take all the time she needs to secure the very best deal for Britain, instead of a duff deal done in a rush.”

Notes to Editors:

• Paragraph 5 of the draft guidelines of the EU Council states: “To the extent necessary and legally possible, the negotiations may also seek to determine transitional arrangements which are in the interest of the Union and, as appropriate, to provide for bridges towards the foreseeable framework for the future relationship. Any such transitional arrangements must be clearly defined, limited in time, and subject to effective enforcement mechanisms. Should a time-limited prolongation of Union acquis be considered, this would require existing Union regulatory, budgetary, supervisory and enforcement instruments and structures to apply.” (The full document is here: http://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/FullText.pdf)
• The TUC says that the type of transitional agreement option proposed under paragraph 5, with a prolongation of Union acquis, would provide stability, continuity and certainty for workers’ rights and trading rights within the single market until a new trade deal is reached, thereby avoiding a damaging period of high tariffs and additional bureaucracy while a new trade is being negotiated.
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