European summit, parliamentary session … Why week is decisive for Brexit negotiations

More than 17 days before the (anticipated) date of Brexit. The United Kingdom and the European Union begin a crucial week, Monday, October 14, to try to reach a divorce agreement. "There is still a lot of work to be done to break the deadlock, said Sunday Michel Barnier, EU negotiator. After a weekend of intense discussions between London and Brussels, franceinfo lists three key moments of this marathon week.

Monday: The Queen's speech in the British Parliament

Elizabeth II addressed the UK Parliament on Monday, October 14, at midday, to present Boris Johnson's national policy agenda. The Queen's traditional speech, marking the opening of a new parliamentary session, detailed 22 new bills. As stated by the BBC (in English), this program contains the latest proposals of the Prime Minister to realize the Brexit on October 31 and "seize opportunities" born of divorce with Brussels.

"The priority of my Government has always been to ensure the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 31 October"said the 93-year-old queen, voicing of the Prime Minister. As regards the 3.4 million Europeans living in the United Kingdom, the government is committed to"they have the right to stay"said Elizabeth II. The executive program also provides for new regimes for fisheries, agriculture and trade after leaving the EU.

"We are continuing to work on an exit agreement so that we can move to negotiations on the future relationship with our European friends, based on free trade and cooperation. friendly, had previously guaranteed Boris Johnson, quoted by the BBC. Butat population does not just want a solution to Brexit. This speech from the Queen, optimistic and ambitious, puts us on the path to achieve all this and more. "

The Conservative government's program also provides for the end of freedom of movement (accompanied by a new point-based immigration system), environmental measures to combat plastic and atmospheric pollution, and a plan to combat crimes. The parliamentarians will then discuss these proposals, before a vote to be held on the return of Boris Johnson from Brussels. At the same time, the UK and the EU are continuing technical discussions to try to reach an agreement on Brexit.

Thursday and Friday: the European summit in Brussels

European leaders meet on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October in Brussels, at a crucial summit. After the 27 rejected his Brexit plan "in its current form"Boris Johnson made new proposals to his Irish counterpart, Leo Varadkar. There has been little detail, however, about possible solutions to persistent points of disagreement between the United Kingdom and the EU, in particular to avoid the return of a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which would threaten peace. on the island.

The 27 would like to have a concrete proposal for agreement on which to decide at the end of these two days of European summit. But if negotiations stall, trade could focus on the conditions for a new Brexit postponement. A law passed in September forced Boris Johnson to request a third extension in Brussels, if no agreement was reached between the two parties by Saturday, October 19. But the British Prime Minister once again ruled out, on October 6, to postpone the fateful date (without specifying how he intended to evade this obligation). A new request for postponement should be unanimously approved by the 27.

Saturday: a special sitting in the House of Commons

The day of 19 October has been described as "Super Saturday"the stakes will be high in the British Parliament, reports the Guardian. MEPs are expected to sit on Saturday (this is only the fourth time since 1939) to discuss the UK's exit from the EU. According to the outcome of the European summit, Boris Johnson will present a draft agreement validated by Brussels or will reveal his plan for the coming weeks.

The Benn law compels the Prime Minister to request a new deadline to 27 if the House of Commons did not approve the text Saturday at 11 pm (midnight on the continent). But nothing says that Boris Johnson will manage to convince the deputies, divided between supporters of maintaining close ties with Brussels and defenders of a clean cut. Earlier this year, the House rejected the agreement negotiated by former Prime Minister Theresa May three times. "Compared to the British Parliament, an Egyptian sphinx is an open book"commented the outgoing President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.