The European Commission has published a draft agreement on relations with Great Britain after the kingdom left the EU.
Brussels offered London cooperation not only in trade and economic matters, but also in the areas of defense, security, and foreign policy. According to experts, this approach does not suit the British side, since it only advocates the creation of a free trade zone and does not want to bind itself with obligations in other areas. However, according to analysts, bargaining in a pandemic of the coronavirus will be extremely problematic.
The European Commission has published a draft agreement on future relations with the UK. The document involves primarily the cooperation of the parties in the field of economics. In particular, the creation of a free trade zone is envisaged.
“Each of the parties establishes the freedom of transit through its territory using the most suitable routes for transit traffic to the territory of the other side and from its territory, as well as to the territory of any third country or from its territory”, – the project says.
It is clarified that Brussels and London cannot introduce customs duties on goods imported from the UK and the EU, respectively. A similar rule applies to exports.
In addition, the document refers to the establishment of “equal rules of the game.” In this context, the rules of taxation, competition, protection of the rights of citizens and workers, as well as environmental protection are affected.
At the same time, the draft document also states that the European Union will receive the right to introduce interim measures in respect of the UK in case of violation of the partnership conditions.
In addition, Brussels also published an annex to the document, in which London is invited to cooperate in the field of defense, security and foreign policy, in particular on the application of sanctions. Thus, it is noted that the parties will act “in order to protect common values and promote common strategic interests”.
“If interests coincide, the parties strive to increase the coherence and effectiveness of their policies and decisions in the field of sanctions, including with regard to their application, while each of the parties will continue to make decisions independently”, – the document says.
It is also noted that “at the appropriate stages of the political cycle”, Brussels and London will seek to exchange data on the preparation and introduction of restrictive measures.