Weekly Update on Brexit Negotiations July 2020
Each week we summarise the latest updates on Brexit Negotiations, here are the updates for each week of July.
**Please note: as Parliament is now in recess our next weekly update will not be published until September.**
For further information and updates please visit our Brexit: Spotlight page. Here we provide details on key issues that will affect businesses in the UK over the coming months and into the future as well as details of the areas in which we can assist with Brexit preparations.
This week, Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, and his team will travel to London for another round of negotiations over a UK-EU trade agreement. Last week, whilst the talks between both parties were constructive, serious disagreements remain.
The Select Committee will hold scrutiny sessions into future UK-EU customs arrangements and citizens rights come the end of the transition period.
What is happening this week:
Monday 6 July
The House of Lords will hear evidence from the EU Goods Sub-Committee and a range of trade, customs and logistics experts on how to facilitate EU-UK trade after the transition. To see who is involved click here.
Tuesday 7 July
The Committee on the Future Relationship will hear organisations in the UK representing 3 million EU citizens, transcripts available here.
The House of Lords, will continue to scrutinise the Government’s Agriculture Bill.
The EU Security and Justice Committee takes evidence from charities, academics and Lord Dubs on the draft agreement on the transfer of unaccompanied migrant children.
Wednesday 8 July
The International Trade Committee will hold a specialised session on progress in negotiating a UK-Japan free trade agreement.
The House of Lords, will question Ministers on future customs arrangements at the UK-EU border.
The EU Environment Sub-Committee will question the Environment Secretary George Eustice to follow up agri-food and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The EU International Agreements Sub-Committee will hear from trade experts as part of the inquiry into the impact of a UK-US Trade Deal.
Thursday 9 July
The Agriculture Bill will undergo its second day of Committee stage scrutiny with two further days of debate are scheduled for next week.
The EU Goods Sub-Committee will hold an additional evidence session with exporters as part of their inquiry into future UK-EU trade in manufactured goods.
Looking ahead
- 13 July: Meeting of UK-EU Chief Negotiators in Brussels
- 20 July: Meeting of UK-E Chief Negotiators in London
- 22 July: The House of Commons breaks for the summer recess
- 27 August: New Liberal Democrat leader announced
- 1 September: The House of Commons returns from the summer recess.
- 31 December: Date in law for the end of the transition period.
Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, and his counterpart, David Frost, reconvened their teams in Brussels for another week of negotiations on the future relationship, with substantial differences remaining between both sides.
The European Commission published a series of documents, to assist UK and EU citizens prepare for the changes. These documents provide a sector-by-sector overview of changes in the UK-EU relationship at the end of the transition period, and the steps businesses and citizens should take to prepare.
According to the Commission, the changes will take place regardless of the outcome of negotiations, therefore organisations, businesses and citizens need to be well prepared for the unavoidable disruptions that will occur at the end of the transition period.
What is happening this week:
Monday 13 July
There is no scheduled Brexit business.
Tuesday 14 July
Following a series of evidence sessions with Northern Ireland businesses, trade experts and Government Ministers, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is set to publish its report into customs arrangements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain after the transition period.
The Committee on the Future Relationship will hold a special evidence session on the progress of UK-EU negotiations in relation to judicial and law enforcement cooperation. So far, both sides disagree over the role of the European Court of Justice, the UK’s adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights and access to each other’s criminal databases.
Wednesday 15 July
The Home Affairs Committee will question the Home Secretary, on the work of the Home Office and on the Government’s proposals for a new points-based immigration system and the progress of the UK’s EU Settlement scheme.
Also, Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for European Transition, will be questioned on the Welsh Government’s preparations for the end of the transition period.
Thursday 16 July
The EU Services Sub Committee will question Nadhim Zahawi, the Minister for Business and Industry, as part of its inquiry into the future of UK-EU trade in professional and business services.
The EU International Agreements Sub Committee will hear from the US Chamber of Commerce about the progress of UK-US trade negotiations.
Looking ahead
- 20 July: Meeting of UK-E Chief Negotiators in London
- 22 July: The House of Commons breaks for the summer recess
- 27 August: New Liberal Democrat leader announced
- 1 September: The House of Commons returns from the summer recess.
- 31 December: Date in law for the end of the transition period.
The Government published its White Paper on the UK Internal Market, setting out some options to protect the flow of goods and services across nations of the UK after the transition period. The Government also proposes to introduce principles of mutual recognition, requiring standards to be automatically accepted across the UK’s nations and non-discrimination, so that all UK’s nations cannot discriminate against goods or services from one another.
Michael Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, is coming to London to continue negotiations with the UK on the future relationship. The agenda includes further negotiations on the level playing field, trade in goods and services as well as law enforcement and judicial cooperation.
What is happening this week:
Monday 20 July 2020
The Trade Bill returns for its remaining stages in the House of Commons.
Tuesday 21 July 2020
The Committee on the Future Relationship will hold an evidence session focusing on foreign, defence and development policy co-operation post the transition period. The UK has not proposed a legal text on foreign affairs cooperation, with the Prime Minister saying in a written statement on 3 February that “Cooperation on foreign affairs and related issues is of course likely to be substantial but does not in itself require a joint institutional framework”.
The House of Lords will further scrutinise the Agriculture Bill.
Wednesday 22 July 2020
The House of Lords sees the Second Reading of the Immigration and Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill. This is the general debate held on all aspects of the Bill.
Thursday 23 July 2020
Brexit related business is focussed in the House of Lords today with day 6 of Committee stages for the Agriculture Bill and the EU International Agreements Sub-committee will be taking evidence from Liz Truss on UK-US trade negotiations.
Looking ahead
- 22 July: The House of Commons breaks for the summer recess
- 27 July: Meeting of UK-EU Chief Negotiators in London
- 17 August: Meeting of UK-EU Chief Negotiators in Brussels
- 1 September: The House of Commons returns from the summer recess
- 31 December: Date in law for the end of the transition period
