Start of the Brexit Process

After membership of the European Union (EU) from January 1, 1973, the United Kingdom (UK) formally applied to leave on March 29, 2017, and thus began the two year process as provided for under article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. A month later on April 29, the remaining European Union leaders met at a summit in Brussels and agreed guidelines for a united approach to the forthcoming negotiations on the UK’s departure. The European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the heads of government of the remaining 27 states demonstrated a public show of unity with a clear message that the process would not be easy. The negotiations will be conducted by the European Commission (the EU civil service) on behalf of the remaining 27 states, with Michel Barnier as chief negotiator, and representatives of the UK, led at present by Brexit secretary, David Davis. Negotiations will begin after the UK general election on June 8.

The European Council (heads of governments) President, Donald Tusk, had stressed that there could be no negotiations about the future until sufficient progress is made on three key issues, which he called ‘people, money and Ireland’. These were endorsed at the April meeting as priority issues. The first refers to the rights of UK citizens in the EU and the rights of EU citizens in the UK. The second issue will be more difficult to agree, that is the exit settlement in respect of financial obligations entered into while the UK was a member, said to be from 50 to 60 billion euro. The third is a tribute to the commitment of the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny and officials to have the UK ‘special relationship’ with Ireland agreed. This involves preserving the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the common travel area which goes back to 1923, and to avoid a hard border after the UK leaves. This is very important because of the existing trade between the two parts of Ireland and thousands crossing the border each way daily for work. It will be the only land border between the UK and the EU. The April meeting also decided that if a united Ireland is brought about through the peaceful and democratic means specified in the Good Friday Agreement that , in accordance with international law, the ‘entire territory’ would become part of the European Union, a procedure followed after German unification in 1990. This decision was recorded in the minutes of the summit.

When the priority issues are agreed, the difficult trade negotiations will start. These are crucial for the UK, the EU, and especially for Ireland with huge weekly trade between the two countries in addition to cross border activity. The possible consequences for Irish agricultural products alone are enormous.

No EU country wants the UK to leave. Indeed, there are many in the UK who do not want to leave. In addition to trade, the key issues for the UK are control of immigration, the final settlement liability and no EU laws applicable there. Some are gradually realising that all these objectives will be difficult to achieve, with the negative consequences far greater than initially believed. Little consideration was given to the consequences for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Many in the UK are hoping for a trade agreement close to that of the single market. However, the EU do not want to provide any incentive for other countries to leave. It follows that a free trade agreement with an external country cannot replicate the advantages of the single market. There is a growing number in the UK who believe the final terms should be put to the people in a new referendum. If a week is a long time in politics, two years is nearly eternity, and anything can happen. The only certainty at present is that no one knows what the final outcome will be.

Bernard O'Hara's latest book entitled Killasser: Heritage of a Mayo Parish is now on sale in the USA and UK as a paperback book at amazon.com, amazon.co.uk or Barnes and Noble

It is also available as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).

An earlier publication, a concise biography of Michael Davitt, entitled Davitt by Bernard O’Hara published in 2006 by Mayo County Council , is now available as Davitt: Irish Patriot and Father of the Land League by Bernard O’Hara, which was published in the USA by Tudor Gate Press (www.tudorgatepress.com) and is available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. It can be obtained as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).