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After ten months, the EU and the UK have made a breakthrough in difficult negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal. However, the deal is not yet dry. In Britain, parliament has to approve, which must be called back from winter break. On the EU side, at least the governments of the 27 member states must approve the outcome of the negotiations.
EU countries are presented with the text
The EU Commission is now sending the text of the agreement to member states. The German EU Presidency has called an extraordinary meeting of the EU ambassadors for Friday morning (10.30am). The EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, will brief the representatives of the member states on the outcome of the negotiations.
Examination in Member States
The Christmas holidays are likely to be canceled for many business and legal experts in the capitals of the EU member states. Now you have to examine the text of the hundreds of pages of agreement in no time. Then each government must decide whether it agrees with the outcome of the negotiations. In many cases, a cabinet decision is sufficient. In countries with a minority government, however, discussions with the opposition or parliamentary involvement may also be necessary.
Another meeting of the EU ambassadors
When all countries are ready, the EU ambassadors will meet again in Brussels, most likely early next week. It could then initiate a written procedure whereby the EU countries jointly formally declare their consent to the trade agreement.
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The agreement is then signed by the EU and it is published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Provisional application
The EU Commission wants to propose a provisional application of the trade agreement by the end of February. Because there is no longer enough time until the end of the year for regular ratification by the European Parliament. It should take place retrospectively in early 2021. Only Member States would have to accept provisional application, not Parliament. However, the EU Commission is likely to consult parliamentarians. (apa)
